to be exemplified as Occasion may require; and every one possessed of it, will be always ready to exert himself, according to its Dictates; and every Exercise of it is accompanied with Self-Approbation.

"Charity is the Bond of Perfectness," and is recommended in the highest Terms throughout the Gospel.

The Idea of Love includes in it a Desire of the Happiness of those we love, and it is our Duty to endeavour, as far as possible, to produce all possible Happiness. But we are by no means, competent to determine in all Cases, what Course of Conduct will eventually produce this Effect. But our Creator has prescribed a Path of Duty, which, if followed, will bring us to this important End. It is then our Business to follow this Prescription, as far as we are acquainted with it, and leave the Event to him; for there cannot be a Doubt but that doing his Will, will finally be productive of the greatest possible Good to the whole of his Creation.

We should then study what his Will is, and conscientiously conform ourselves to it, that by so doing, we may contribute all in our Power, to produce the greatest possible Happiness, and so fulfil the Law of Love. We should do Good, first of all, to those who most deserve it, but remember to do Good to All.

ALMSGIVING is a Branch of Charity, and fre

quently

but which, unhappily for Society, prevails much in the World, and is the Source of perhaps half the Evils we suffer from one another, and which will probably continue to molest Mankind, until the benevolent Principle is more cultivated, and Resignation to the Order and Disposition of Providence, is more prevalent than at present. But I believe (with Mr. Law,) that "no one Thing would so effectually cure us of this unchristian Temper, as to make it a Rule with ourselves, when we find Envy rising in our Minds, to pray God to bless and prosper the envied Person, in that very Thing which raised our Envy."

INDISCRIMINATE ALMS. Almsgiving is an office which requires much Discretion in the Performance. Every poor Man is not a proper Object of it; and upon those, who have reduced themselves to this unhappy State by Intemperance, by Idleness, by Gambling, by Profligacy, or by Debauchery, the most useful Charity we can bestow, is to compel them to labour. For he that will not work, ought not to eat; though if such a one is disabled from working by Sickness or Debility, he without Doubt becomes a proper Object of our Alms. But the Man, who is much in Debt, has no more Right to bestow his Goods in Charity, than in Generosity; for all he gives belongs to his Creditor, and there cannot be any Virtue in disposing of another Man's Property. But though such a

one

quently goes by that Name, and is a Duty incumbent on every one, who possesses more than is sufficient for the necessary Conveniences of Life. There is no Duty more warmly urged upon us in the Gospel, and we are even directed to work with our Hands, (and if so, then certainly to abstain from all unnecessary Expenses,) that we may have, to give to him that needeth. It has pleased our wise Creator, to distribute the good Things of this Life very unequally, and this Order of Things gives Scope and Opportunity for, and calls into Action and Exercise, the Practice of Virtues, which could never exist, if all Things came alike to all. If our Species were as independent of each other, as Brutes are, we should not, it is true, be disturbed by Envy, Malice, Pride or Covetousness; and should avoid many of the Ills we now suffer.

But we should then be incapacitated for a State of Society.

There

could then be no Exercise for Virtue or Vice of the social Kind; and the present State could not be a State of Probation, or not so, in any Degree comparable with what it now is. we were from the Beginning,

Now it appears, that designed by our Ma

ker for Happiness, in a Society of perfect Happiness, and perfect Virtue; that is, for Heaven, which it is certain, such a Creature as Man could never enjoy, without a previous Education, similar to that we are now in.

HUMANITY, in its fullest Extent, forbids the caus

ing

one, ought not to give pecuniary Assistance, yet there are numerous other Ways, in which he may do his poor Neighbour essential Service, and when that is the Case, it is as much his Duty to render it, as if he possessed great Riches. In general, all who are reduced to abject Poverty, without any Fault of their own, have the first Claim to our Bounty.

INHUMANITY, CRUELTY, consist in inflicting needless Pain; or in refusing or neglecting to relieve Distress, when it is in our Power. It demonstrates a criminal Defect of that Benevolence and Charity, which is the indispensable Duty of every Christian. Deliberately to inflict Misery, to take Pleasure in the Groans of the tortured, exceeds the Bounds of common Depravity, and excites universal Horror. Every species, and every Degree of Cruelty, ought, therefore, to be discouraged and highly reprobated, especially in Children and young Persons. They should never be suffered to torment Animals or Insects without severe Reprehension, lest they acquire a criminal Habit of Inattention to the Pains and Sufferings of others. Cock-fighting, Bull-baiting, and I may add, Horse-racing, appear to be inexcusable Acts of Cruelty, as they give Pain, merely for our Amusement.

A

ing of needless Pain, not only to our own Species, but to the brute Creation, and extends to every Being capable of Feeling. It leads us to assist and relieve every one in Distress, and is a Virtue of great Importance, as its Object is to lessen the Miseries of Life. This amiable Temper is most beautifully illustrated and enforced by our Saviour, in his Parable of the good Samaritan.

KINDNESS involves a Willingness to oblige, and to confer Favours upon all we are conversant with, as Occasions may offer, and according to our Ability.

COMPASSION, OR SYMPATHY with every one in Distress. This Emotion seems to have been given, to prompt us to render our Assistance instantly, upon any sudden Emergency or Distress; and whoever is not animated by it, on proper Occasions, is greatly deficient in the humane and christian Virtues.

FRIENDSHIP is that mutual Love, Esteem, Affection, and unlimited Confidence, which sometimes subsists, between two virtuous Persons, intimately acquainted. Such a Connection has been much extolled, and is no doubt useful to the parties; but as it has no Tendency to diffuse, but rather perhaps, to contract, the benevolent Principle, it is, I believe, nowhere particularly recommended in the Gospel, but our Saviour has given a notable Example of Friendship, in the Case of Lazarus.

HOSPITALITY, or welcoming and kindly entertain