 the New Testament. And as he thought it an indispensable
Duty, enjoined both by the Christian Law, and by the Law of Nature itself; so
was it withal so pleasant, that if any Duty could be said to be its own Reward,
or to pay us while we are discharging it, it was this.
    To confess the Truth,« said he, »there is one Degree of Generosity, (of
Charity I would have called it) which seems to have some Shew of Merit, and that
is, where from a Principle of Benevolence, and Christian Love, we bestow on
another what we really want ourselves; where, in order to lessen the Distresses
of another, we condescend to share some Part of them by giving what even our own
Necessities cannot well spare. This is, I think, meritorious; but to relieve our
Brethren only with our Superfluities; to be charitable (I must use the Word)
rather at the Expence of our Coffers than ourselves; to save several Families
from Misery rather than hang up an extraordinary Picture in our Houses, or
gratify any other idle, ridiculous Vanity, this seems to be only being
Christians, nay indeed, only being human Creatures. Nay, I will venture to go
farther, it is being in some degree Epicures: For what could the greatest
Epicure wish rather than to eat with many Mouths instead of one; which I think
may be predicated of any one who knows that the Bread of many is owing to his
own Largesses.
    As to the Apprehension of bestowing Bounty on such as may hereafter prove
unworthy Objects, because many have proved such; surely it can never deter a
good Man from Generosity: I do not think a few or many Examples of Ingratitude
can justify a Man's hardening his Heart against the Distresses of his
Fellow-Creatures; nor do I believe it can ever have such Effect on a truly
benevolent Mind. Nothing less than a Persuasion of universal Depravity can lock
up the Charity of a good Man; and this Persuasion must lead him, I think, either
into Atheism, or Enthusiasm; but surely it is unfair to argue such universal
Depravity from a few vicious Individuals; nor was this, I believe, ever done by
a Man, who upon searching his own Mind found one certain Exception to the
general Rule.« He then concluded by asking who that Partridge was whom he had
called a worthless Fellow.
    »I mean,« said the Captain, »Partridge, the Barber, the Schoolmaster, what
do you call him? Partridge, the Father of the little Child which you found
