,
and felt only by Grace. Those (he said) came nearer to the Scripture Meaning,
who understood by it Candour, or the forming of a benevolent Opinion of our
Brethren, and passing a favourable Judgment on their Actions; a Virtue much
higher, and more extensive in its Nature, than a pitiful Distribution of Alms,
which, though we would never so much prejudice, or even ruin our Families, could
never reach many; whereas Charity, in the other and truer Sense, might be
extended to all Mankind.«
    He said, »Considering who the Disciples were, it would be absurd to conceive
the Doctrine of Generosity, or giving Alms, to have been preached to them. And,
as we could not well imagine this Doctrine should be preached by its divine
Author to Men who could not practise it, much less shall we think it understood
so by those who can practise it, and do not.
    But though,« continued he, »there is, I am afraid, little Merit in these
Benefactions; there would, I must confess, be much Pleasure in them to a good
Mind, if it was not abated by one Consideration. I mean, that we are liable to
be imposed upon, and to confer our choicest Favours often on the Undeserving, as
you must own was your Case in your Bounty to that worthless Fellow Partridge:
For two or three such Examples must greatly lessen the inward Satisfaction,
which a good Man would otherwise find in Generosity; nay, may even make him
timorous in bestowing, lest he should be guilty of supporting Vice, and
encouraging the Wicked; a Crime of a very black Dye, and for which it will by no
means be a sufficient Excuse, that we have not actually intended such an
Encouragement; unless we have used the utmost Caution in chusing the Objects of
our Beneficence. A Consideration which, I make no Doubt, hath greatly checked
the Liberality of many a worthy and pious Man.«
    Mr. Allworthy answered, »He could not dispute with the Captain in the Greek
Language, and therefore could say nothing as to the true Sense of the Word,
which is translated Charity; but that he had always thought it was interpreted
to consist in Action, and that giving Alms constituted at least one Branch of
that Virtue.
    As to the meritorious Part,« he said, »he readily agreed with the Captain;
for where could be the Merit of barely discharging a Duty; which (he said) let
the Word Charity have what Construction it would, it sufficiently appeared to be
from the whole Tenor of
