PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

166 PrqesiiGnul AssistaNt.
adjust these disputes, with all the effect, and without
lIlt! e.~pense, of ~ law-~uit ; and he nlay be said to
gi7?- a poor man twenty PG!1nd~, who prevelits his
throwing it away upon )a\~~. A I~gal mao, \vhether
of the profession or 11ot, who, t(\~ether \~jth a spirit
of conciliation, possesses the confidence of his neighbourhood,
,till be much resort~d to £0); this purpose,
especially since the great increase of costs has prodt:-
coo a general dread of going to law.
Nor is this line of beneficence confined to ilrbitraii~n.
Seasonable counsel, coming with ,the wei3ht
whicii the reputation of the adviser gives it, 'viIi often
keep or extric2.te the rash and uninformed uut of
great difficulties.
Lastly, I know not a more exalted charit)y than
that which presents a shield against the r2pacity or
persecution of a tyr~t.
: 5. Betwixt argument and authority (I mean that.
authority which ... flows from voluntary respect, and
attends upon sanctity and disinterestedness of character)
something may be done amongst the lo\ver orders
of mankind, towards the regulation of their
conduct~ and the satisfaction of their thoughts.
rl'his office belongs to the ministers of religion; or
:·at l1er \vnoever undertakes it becomes a minister of
rdigion. The inferior clergy, who are nearly upon
~: !e\Tel \vith the cOlnmon sort of their parishioners,
and \vho on that account gain an easier admission to
their society and confidence, have in this respect
more in their p3wer than their superiors: the dis-
.;reet use of· this pO\\7er constitutes one of" the Dlost
:espectablc functiollS of htltTJal1 flature. . ,
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