372 Of the Direction of our Charity. Bk. iv. 



saries of life as can be obtained by the wages of 

 common labour. 



It is evident that these reasonings do not apply 

 to those cases of urgent distress arising from dis- 

 astrous accidents, unconnected with habits of in- 

 dolence and improvidence. If a man break a leg 

 or an arm, we are not to stop to inquire into his 

 moral character before we lend him our assistance; 

 but in this case we are perfectly consistent, and 

 the touchstone of utility completely justifies our 

 conduct. By affording the most indiscriminate 

 assistance in this way, we are in little danger of 

 encouraging people to break their arms and legs. 

 According to the touchstone of utility, the high 

 approbation which Christ gave to the conduct of 

 the good Samaritan, who followed the immediate 

 impulse of his benevolence in relieving a stranger 

 in the urgent distress of an accident, does not, in 

 the smallest degree, contradict the expression of 

 St. Paul, "If a man will not work, neither shall 

 " he eat." 



We are not, however, in any case, to lose 

 a present opportunity of doing good, from the 

 mere supposition that we may meet possibly with 

 a worthier object. In all doubtful cases it may 

 safely be laid down as our duty to follow the 

 natural impulse of our benevolence; but when, in 

 fulfilling our obligations as reasonable beings to 

 attend to the consequences of our actions, we 

 have, from our own experience and that of others, 

 drawn the conclusion that the exercise of our be- 



