The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-05-03

mly fhall be furpcrted Il is evident that we
do not merely endeayCr TO mitigate fone Of the
partial evils ariiing from general laws, but re-
gu;arly and automatically to counteract the OBJ
viouilv beneficial effects of theie general laws
themfelves. And we cannot ealily conceive,
that the Deity ihou'd ir,plsnt any patton in
the human breatt for fitch purpofe.
In the great courie of human events, the he,t-
founded expectations will fometimes be difsp-
pointed; and indua-y, prudence and virtue,
not only fail OF their iuh reward, hut be invo-
we'd in unmerited calamitics. Thote who are
thus inffering in fpte of the bsn-dreeted ell
deavours to avoid it, and from canies which
they could not be expected TO forefee, are the
genuine objects os charity. IL relieving thefe,
we exercife the appropriate Office of bcnevo-
lence, that of mitigating come Of the partial e,
wis arihng from general laws; and in this
direction of our charity, therefore, we need not
apprehend any i'll consequences. Such ohjeds
ought to be relieved according to our
means literally and adequately, even though the
worthless were ftarying.
When indeed, this frft claim on our bepevo.
lence was fatishcd, we might then turn our At
ttentIou to the idle and improvident but the
intere!ts OF human happinefs mott clearly re-
qure, that the relief which we afford them
ihouid be very fcanty. We may perhaps take
'.Pon onrfelves with great caution, to mitigate.
in Tome degree, the punilhmcnts which they
are futfering from the laws OF nature but on no
account to remove them entirely. They arc
defervedy at the bottom, in the fcale of 70.
ctety and, If we raife them from this fituatiou.
we not only palpably defeat the end of benevo.
lence, but commit mott plaring niulticc to
thote who are above them. They lhould ON no
account he enabled to command 60 much Of
the neceilares of life, rs can be obtained nv
the worlt-paid common labour. The brownef
bread, with the coareit and fcautieft apparel.
is the utmof which they fhouId have the means
of purchaiing.
IT is evident that thefe reafonings do not
apply to thofe cafes of urgent diitrefs ariling
from ditaftrous accidents, unconnected with ha
bits at Incidence and improvidence. IF man
break a leg or all arm, we are not to flop to in
quire INTO his moral character before we lend
him our alliitance but in This cafe we are per-
feetly confident, and the touchitone of utility
completely iutifies our conduit. By affording
the mott indifcriminatc ailil,ance in this wav.
we are in little danger ofencouraging people to
break their arms and legs. According to the
touchitone of utility, the high appreciation
which Chrift gave 10 the conduct of the good
Samaritan, who followed The immediate inpulfe
Oh MS henevoIence ofreiieving Granger, in the
urgent dlftreis of N accident, does not. in the
i,nalieft degree, contradict the exprcilions of
raul, :. Ii man will not work, neither fhall
he cat"
we are not, however, in any cafe, to lofe a
preient opportunity of doing good, from the
mere fuppoition that we may politely meet
with worthier object. In all doubtful cafes,
1t may iafely be laid down as our duty, to
foiiow the natural impulie of Our benevolence :;
out when, IN fulfilling our obligation as rea-
ioiiaoie beings, to attend o the confeouences
or our actions, we have, from our own experi
ence and that from Others, drawn the conclu-
lion, that the exercife of our bcuevolence in
one mode is prejudicial, and in another is bene.
hciai, in its effects, we are certainly bound. as
moral agents, to check our natural propenG,ies
III the one direction, and to encourage them.
and acquire the habits OF exerciiing them, in the
other. '">