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

Pecuniary Bounty.
i7S
5. " 'I'hat they pay the poor rates." They might
as well allege that they pay their debts; for the
poor have the same right to that portion of a man's
property, which the laws assign to them, that the
man himself has to the remainder.
6. ,,' fhat they employ many poor ~persons:"­
for their own sake, not the poor's; otherwise it is a
good pIea~ .
7. "~hat the poor do not suffer so much as we
imagine; that education and hah:t have reconciled
them to the evils of their condition, and make them
easy under it.)'
Habit can neyer reconcile human
nature to the extremities of cold, hunger, and thirst,
any nlore than it can reconcile the hand to the
touch of a red.hot iron: besides, the question is not,
ho\v unhappy anyone is, but how much more happy
,ve can make him.
B. " That these' people, give them what: you will,
will never thank you, or think of. you for it." In
the first place, this:is not t>me: in the second place,
it was not for the sake of their thanks that you relieved
theine
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9. "That we are liable to be imposed upon."· H
a due inquiry be made, our melit is the same: be- ~
side that, the distress is generally real, although the
cause be untruly_ stated.
10. " That they should apply to their parishes.'''
This is not always practicable: to which we may
add, that there are lllany requisites to a comfortable
subsistence, which parish relief does not supply; and
that there are some, who would suffer almost as
much frem ,receiving parish relief, as by the want
of it; and lastly,. that there are many modes of
ct!arii:Y, tCJ wh;ch this ans\\rer does not relate at all.
11. "That giving money encourages idlenesS'
and vagrancy." This is true only of injudicious and.· .
indiscriminate genero~ity.
12. "That we have too !Dany objects of charity
at home, to bestow any thmg upon strangers; or
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