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

.
, agantt the limits oftEe means Cf fuhiiflepcr
The emotion which prompts us TO relieve dur
fellow creatures in drefs, is like all our b.her
natural patiohs. general and in fo,ne decree in.
discriminate and blind. Our feelings Cf com.
pafion may be worked up to higher Pitch bv
weli-wrought fccne in play, OF fictitious
tale IN novel, than by almof any events in re-
al me; and II, among fen petitioners, we were
to littep only TO the hif iinpults of our FEE ny.
without making further enquiries, W. i1onld
undoubtedly give our afiifaoce to the.buh acto-
OF the party. Il is evident, therefore, that the
lmpulis OF benevoence, Ike the i,apu!fes Of
love- or anger, of ambition, of eating and drink
ing, or any other of our natural propenrtics,
NUT be regulated by experience, and freousnt.
~ brought to the tet of utility, or it will defeat
Its intended purpoe.
The apparent Object of the PATTON between
Ihe lexssis, the continuation of the fpecirs, aud
INC formation OF iuch an intimate union OF view
ana intereits between two perions, as will belt
promote their happnsfs, and at the fame time
iecure the proper degree Of attention to the
hcipleisneis OF infancy and the education of the
riiine generation; bUt ifevery man were to ohsv
at all times the impuifes of nature in the craft
hcation of this PATTON, without regard TO con-
icGuences, the principal part ofthc important
Objects would not be attained, and even the cons
tinuatlon ofthe ipeces might be defeated hy 4
~ O''''ASuOuS iitSICOuTlS.
he apparent end of the impulfe of beneyo-
ience, is 10 draw the whole human race tope-
ther, but more particularly that part of it which
is OF our own nation and kindred, in the bond,
OF brotherly love and by giving men an inte
relt IN the happiness and miicry OF .heir fellow
creatures, to prompt them, as s;lty have power,
to mitigate fome ofthe partial wills ariiine iron,
general laws, and thus TO increaie the Jun of
human happineiS; Lut if our benevoltnce lie
iinaiicrimiDate, Az the degree Of spparrnt s.ii-
tre1s oe niadet'.e fo,e meafurc Of o;r iiberaIty.
It Is evident, that it will be exerciled almoh ex.
ciuuveiy upon common beeears, while modcf
unobtruiive merit, ugsling vita unavoidable
difhculties, yet Till maintaining ne flight ap-
pearances OF decency and C!eanl utfS, will lie to-
tally neglected. We lhall raiie the worthless A.
ooye the worthy we ihall encourage Incidence
and check nduftry; and, in the moA marked
manner, iuotraef from the fun of human hap
pinefs.
Our experience has, indeed, informed MS,
that the impnIe OF henevolence is net e Grong
as the PATTON between the fexes, and that, gere-
rally fpeaking, there is much lefa dagger to he
apprehended from the indulgence of the former
than o.the latter; but, independently O. thsexpe-
nence, ard of the moral codes Funded upon
II, youth OF eighteen would be as conpietrly
fulfilled in INDUCING the fexuel patton WITH e.
very objett capable Of exciting il, as in follow
ing unfortunately every impult, of his 6ens
violence. They are both natural pafions which
are excited by their appropriate objetts, and to
the gratiiIcaflon OF which, we are prompted by
the p!eafurable fcniations which accompany
them. AS animals, or till we know their conf.
quences, our only buGnefs is to follow thefe
dictates OF nature ; but, as Reasonable beings.
we are under the ttrongeft obligations to attend
to their consequences and if they he evi to
ourieiyes or Others, we may juhly conGdcr it a.
an indication that fuch mode of Inducing
theie pafiions is not fuited TO Our fate, or con-
formable to the will of God. AS moral agents.
therefore, 1t is clearly our dutyto refrain their
indulgence in thefe particular directions: and
by thus carefully examining the confeouencrs
OF our natural pafiions, and frequently brineint
them TO the teft of utility, gradually 10 acquire
habit of gratifying them, only in that way,
which, being unattended with evil, will clearly
add to the ium of human happinefs, and fulfil
the apparent purpofe of the Creator.
Though utility, therefore, can never be The
immediate excitement TO the qualification of
any psfiicn, it is the teft by which alone we can
know, whether 1t ought, or ought not, to he in
dulged and is, therefore, the f,ireA foundation
OF all morality which can he collected from the
light of nature. All the moral codes which
have inculcated the fubje6tiun of the paffionsto
reafon, have been, as / conceive, really hniit
upon tins foundation, whether the promulga.
tors OF them were aware of it or not.
i remind the reader of thefe truths, in order
to apply them to the habtuai direction of orr
charity and, if we keep the criterion Of utility
conitantlyin view, we may find ample room et.
the exercife of Our benevolence, without inter-
fering wththe great purpofe which we have to
One of the mott valuable parts of charity, is
its effect upon the giver. II is more blefltd 70
give than to receive. Supporting it to be allow
ed, that the eSerciie Of our benevolence in acts
of charity is not, upon the whole, really bene.
fetal TO the poor, yet we could never fapGion
any endeavor to extinguifh an mpulfe, the pro.
per qualification ofvhich has 70 evident 4 TEN
dency TO purify and exalt the human mind.
But it is particularly satisfactory and pleafng
to find, that the mode Of exerciGng orr chart.
ty, which when brought to TIE ten OF utility.
will appear to- he mot beneficial to the poor. ia
precifcly that, which will have the beR and
mott improving effect on the mind of the do.
nor.
The quality of charity like that of mercy,
is not ftraned
Il dropeth the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the earth beneath"
The immcnfe fvms diarbuted to the poor.
in this country by the psrochial laws, are m-
properly called charity. They want its mott
attribute; and, as it mi,lt lie