The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-08-24
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.

This saying has by some been understood as
emenating from the selfish and pennrious but
moments reflection will convince any one that
it is butted and bounded on that broad base
whose pillars, like the ladder of JACOB, reach
from earth to Heaven and which, like the me-
tallic rod, attracting the fluid, draws down this
Heavenly principle Of charity, and causes its re-
freshinS influence TO be felt "a the show ers that
water the earth. Charity, says the blessed
gospel, IS not pulled up, doth not behave itself
unseemly, sufereth long, and is Xxi d, beareth all
things hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Is not the real character Of this Heavenly duty
frequently mistaken? and do not content
ourselves with the performance Of a small part
Of its obligations IN aims giving? IL is no doubt
one OF the first duties of life TO feed the ngry,
to cloathe the naked and to cause tie blessing Of
BIN that is ready 10 perish to come upon US bur,
after all, y charity must begin at home - and
while it teaches as to he at peace with all meu,
to love our enemies,and do good 10 them that hate
US and despitefully use US, it also teaches us to
use the good things of this world AS not abusing
them--it also teaches us that while Providence
is blessing US in our basket aud our store, we
should enjoy the prosperity with temperance and
prudence, and prepare, while in the sun shine Of
good fortune for the RAINY day Of adversely But,
say some, the little that could pare Is really So
small as n. t to be an object my family must be
comfortable, and cannot deny myself the means
of contributing to the enjoyment Of my friends,
when am favored with their company. Meth
er does any one wish you TO do II. EnJoy the good
things Of this life, far they contribute TO your
comfort AMI that Of our friends. Bot stop here
and let nothing be spent for superfuities. Spend
not youy time in idle vain alnuse ments but de-
vote It to pursuits Of usefIlnGs and duty and i.
your Accommodations from these savings are so
small a. not TO be of consequence IN your esti.na-
ton. put them as they occur every week into the
Savings Bank, and in the end that which you
thot least Of will prove ITSELF the most important,
and that which would have been squaDdered gu
some useless trihe may be your support in sickness
aud old age, or the means Of educating your
phan children. Ii We are IN the commence nIent
of life, let Us rene hber, that, five begin with
economy and industry, We shall end with compe-
lance. live are az the meridian, that oar Fel4-
tive duties have increased with cur years, auJ
that others are to Ne benefited wv our economT
and example and if at the more advanced pc
Rod OF life that it is never too late to Lo good.
Perhaps there never was an institution, 50 u'eiJ
calculated as this Savings ilanA, tJ make poor
men rich, aud we have the saiisIacticn cf know
ing, that il Is BY cur own exertions we are made
50. While we are sleeping, or Little fIad s
not only safe but coutiDaaltT inc. easing AID y.
all that We can spare w added to ~ seek W, wv
wall turn cut, that !. charity hes begun athol-s,'
and that from this sanctuary of enjoyment. she
will 20 forth into the world, uot oliy Hi-h the
dis position, bat with The mcais. 60 relieve the
wants Of those who have beea Is lsoFideut or
more unfortunate Khan cpsFc.Fes,