There are mistakes on this head, which demand correction. It has been urged, that our improved knowledge on the subject of population is unfavourable to charity; and even inconsistent with Christianity which enjoins it. This may be an easy shelter to the selfish and extravagant, who lull their consciences with the belief, that, in spending sumptuously instead of giving prudently, they are practising political economy. But the most rigorous precept of Scripture might be followed in the most literal exactness, without any danger of injuring the community, or any violation of general rules: "Turn not your face from any poor man ;" but inquire into the circumstances of his distress, and point out to

of Christianity prevailing, because the mass of your population can read, comprehend and feel its divine origin, and the beauty of the doctrines which it inculcates; your kingdom safe from the insult of the enemy, because every man knows the worth of that which he is called upon to defend. In the provision for the security of the savings of the poor, I see encouragement to frugality, security to property, and the large mass of the people connected with the state, and indissolubly bound to its preservation." Speech, &c. p. 95.

him the mode in which the prudent regulations of society have directed that it should be relieved. The subdivision of labour, which is peculiar to a large and intelligent community, is applicable to charity, as well as to literature and the arts, and renders it very possible to bestow attention on the wants and distresses of every individual. *

There is something in this mutual dependence and connexion of the different members of society on one another, which is both pleasing in contemplation, and eminently suited to the situation of mankind as the children of one common Parent, and the heirs of one common immortality. A state of civilization, which supposes opulence, competency, and poverty, in all their various degrees, is far. more suitable, when thus improved, to the purposes of man's being, than any condition of uniform equality could become, even if we de

*This may be seen reduced to practice in the operations of the Bath, Oxford, or Bristol Mendicant Societies.

part from experience in framing it, and indulge the imagination with an ideal picture. That there should be room for the exercise of benevolence, a disposition of the mind, which, in fact, contains within itself many virtues, was undoubtedly in the contemplation of the Creator. The contrast of condition which arises from the unequal distribution of wealth, is well fitted to excite this; and a crowd of Christian graces follow in its train: the humility which visits the cottager, encourages his industry or cheers his distress; the denial of selfish gratification, for the purpose of raising laborious poverty; the prudence which withholds relief from the clamorous, to give it, though at the expense of time and trouble, to unobtrusive merit; the reciprocal emotions of gratitude and goodwill; and "all the charities" of neighbour, friend, and patron, have their origin in the just exercise of benevolence. When man is in a more perfect state, he will stand in no need of these opportunities, which are, in effect, trials: but no preparatory dis

pensation could be more consistent with the divine goodness, than that which makes the

general well-being of the members of society depend upon their right performance of their respective duties.

CHAPTER VI.

On the Evils of an uncivilized State.

THE circumstances of those countries which have either never reached a state of tolerable civilization, or, having reached it, have fallen back to the different degrees of rudeness in which we find them now, remain still to be examined. But first, it is right to observe, that the nature of these evils is widely different from the case of partial poverty, arising from the inequality of ranks. That has appeared to be, in a great measure, the certain result of general improvement. On the other hand, the evils of barbarous countries are the offspring of no such necessity, but of moral degradation: they militate against the apparent design of Providence, since it has been largely shown that the natural instincts and reason of mankind tend to their union, improvement, and