364 Of tJie Direction of our Charity. Bk. iv. 



human happiness, and fulfil the apparent purpose 

 of the Creator. 



Though utility, therefore, fan never be the im- 

 mediate excitement to the gratification of any 

 passion, it is the test by which alone we can 

 know, independently of the revealed will of God, 

 whether it ought or ought not to be indulged ; 

 and is therefore the surest criterion of moral rules 

 which can be collected from the light of nature. 

 All the moral codes, which have inculcated the 

 subjection of the passions to reason, have been, 

 as I conceive, really built upon this foundation, 

 whether the promulgators of them were aware of 

 it or not. 



I remind the reader of these truths, in order to 

 apply them to the habitual direction of our cha- 

 rity ; and if we keep the criterion of utility con- 

 stantly in view, we may find ample room for the 

 exercise of our benevolence, without interfering 

 with the great purpose which we have to accom- 

 plish. 



One of the most valuable parts of charity is its 

 eifect upon the giver. It is more blessed to give 

 than to receive. Supposing it to be allowed that 

 the exercise of our benevolence in acts of charity 

 is not, upon the whole, really beneficial to the 

 poor; yet we could never sanction any endeavour 

 to extinguish an impulse, the proper gratification 

 of which has so evident a tendency to purify and 

 exalt the human mind. But it is particularly 

 satisfactory and pleasing to find that the mode of 

 exercising our charity, which, when brought to 



