162 
On CHARITY with regard to ALMS. 
LETTER LIIJ. 
1 o the fame. 
Madam, 
I F I fuggefl any thought to you which falls in with your own 
way of thinking ; or if you have any partiality for the au- 
thor of thefe letters, you will read them with at lead: as much 
attention as they deferve ; and let the dignity of the fubjed 
atone for fuch defeats as you may difcover. 
My next fubjed was charity, that which I defire of you is, 
to be the better for what I am writing. Resolve to be the 
better, and you are fo : I need not remind you, that charity 
is the virtue which covers a multitude of fins? You have 
fome, I fuppofe ; I dare fay you would be glad to atone for 
them in a manner fo agreeably to your natural difpofition, 
u Shut up alms in thy flore-houfes ; and it fhail deliver thee 
“ from all afflidion.” This is a ffrong figure to exprefs the 
belief that our truest, if not our only riches, in the fight of 
god, is the charity we have beftowed on others. The mind 
which conffantly cherifhes a habit of beneficence, perpetually 
offers incenfe to the god of heaven and earth. Humanity exer- 
cifed to all creatures, is an imitation of the divine mercy. Thofe 
who indulge themfelves in this pleafure, in every adion of life, 
are objeds delightful to god and men. 
Our public charities, in this ifland, are very extenfive : but 
if we employed less money, and more attention, politically 
as well as morally confidered, there would be much Jefs mifery 
amongfl us : Some ads of beneficence are produdive of great 
2 mifchiefs : 
