CHAP. IV. CHARITY. TH PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE. 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 themselves. 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 himself to collect obfervations upon the ftate and operation of the poor laws, and to contrive remedies for the imperfections and abufes which he obferves, and digefts these remedies into acts of parliament, and conducts them by argument or influence through the two branches of the 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 happinefs makes no inconfiderable part of the whole. The ftudy and activity thus employed is charity, in the moft 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 oppofition to that of the poor, inafmuch as whatever they allow them comes in part out of their own pocket. For this reafon, the law has depofited with juftices of the peace, a power of fuperintendence and controul; and the judicious in terpofition terpofition of this power is a moft useful exertion of charity, and oft-times within the ability of thofe, who have no other way of ferving their generation. A country gentleman, of very moderate education, and who has little to fpare from his fortune, by learning fo much of the poor law as is to be found in Dr. Burn's fuftice, 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, 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 firft 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 thefe difputes, with all the effect, and without the expence of a law-fuit; and he may be faid 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 costs has produ-, ced a general dread of going to law. Nor is this line of beneficence confined to arbitration Seasonable coun fel, 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. M 2 I know I know not a more exalted charity than that which presents a shield against the rapacity or perfecution of a tyrant. 5. Betwixt argument and authority (I mean that authority which flows from voluntary refpect, and attends upon fanctity and difintereftedness of character) fomething may be done amongft the lower orders of mankind, towards the regulation of their conduct, and the fatisfaction 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 eafier admiflion to their fociety and confidence, have in this respect more in their power than their fuperiors: the difcreet ufe of this power conftitutes one of the most respectable functions of human nature. СНАР. CHA P. v. CHARITY. PECUNIARY BOUNTY. 1. The obligation to beftow relief upon the poor. 11. The manner of beftowing it. III. The pretences by which men excuse themselves from it. 1. The obligation to bestow relief upon the poor. T HEY who rank pity amongst the original impulses of our nature, rightly contend, that, when it prompts us to the relief of human mifery, it indicates fufficiently the divine intention, and our duty. Indeed, the fame conclufion is deducible from the existence of the paffion, whatever account be given of its origin. Whether it be an inftinct or a habit, it is in fact a property of our nature, which God appointed; and the final caufe, for which it was appointed, is to afford to the miferable, in the compaffion of their fellow-creatures, a remedy for thofe inequalities and diftreffes, which God forefaw that many muft be expofed to, under every general rule for the diftribution of property. Befide this, the poor have a claim founded in the law of nature, which may be thus explained. All things were originally common. No one being able to produce a charter from heaven, had any better title to a particular poffeffion, than his next neighbour. There were reafons for mankind's agreeing agreeing upon a feparation of this common fund; and God for these reasons is prefumed to have ratified it. But this feparation was made and confented to, upon the expectation and condition, that every one should have left a fufficiency for his fubfiftence, or means of procuring it and as no fixed laws for the regulation of property can be fo contrived, as to provide for the relief of every cafe and diftrefs which may arife, these cafes and diftreffes, when their right and share in the common ftock was given or taken from them, were supposed to be left to the voluntary bounty of thofe, who might be acquainted with the exigencies of their fituation, and in the way of affording affiftance. And therefore, when the partition of property is rigidly maintained against the claims of indigence and diftress, it is maintained in oppofition to the intention of thole who made it, and to his, who is the Supreme Proprietor of every thing, and who has filled the world with plenteoufnels for the fuftentation and comfort of all whom he fends into it. The Chriflian fcriptures are more copious and explicit upon this duty than almoft any other. The defcription which Chrift has left us of the proceed. ings of the laft day eftablishes the obligation of bounty, beyond controverfy "When the Son of "man fhall come in his glory, and all the holy "angels with him, then fhall he fit upon the "throne of his glory, and before him thall be "gathered all nations; and he thall feparate them "one from another.-Then fhall the king fay unto "them on his right hand, Come ye bleited of my "father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you "from the foundation of the world: FrI was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirty, "and ye gave me drink: I was a tranger, and ye "took me in: naked, and ye cloathed me: I was "fick, and ye vifited me: I was in prifon, and ye came unto me.--And inalmuch as ye have done |