object of diftrefs, which threatens fuch a difafter to him like the man here

reprefented, devoutly paffing by on the other fide, as if unwilling to trust himfelf to the impreffions of nature, or hazard the inconveniences which pity might lead him into upon the occafion.

There is but one ftroke wanting in this picture of an unmerciful man to render the character utterly odious, and that our SAVIOUR gives it in the following inftance he relates upon it. And likewife, fays he, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked at him. It was not a tranfient overfight, the hafty or ill advised neglect of an unconfidering humour, with which the beft difpofed are fometimes overtaken, and led on beyond the point where otherwife they would have wished to stop. No! - on the

con

contrary, it had all the aggravation of a deliberate act of infenfibility proceeding from a hard heart. When he was at the place, he came, and looked at himconfidered his misfortunes, gave time for reafon and nature to have awoke - faw the imminent danger he was in-and the preffing neceffity of immediate help, which fo violent a cafe called aloud for and after all -turned afide and unmercifully left him to all the diftreffes of his condition.

In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the cafe will well let them fo that in the hardest acts a man fhall be guilty of, he has fome motives true or falfe always ready to offer, either to fatisfy himself or the

world,

world, and, God knows, too often to impose both upon the one and the other. And therefore it would be no hard matter here to give a probable guefs at what paffed in the Levite's mind in the prefent cafe, and fhew, was it neceffary, by what kind of cafuiftry he fettled the matter with his confcience as he paffed by, and guarded all the paffages to his heart against the inroads which pity might attempt to make upon the occafion. But it is painful to dwell long upon this difagreeable part of the story; I therefore haften to the concluding incident of it, which is fo amiable that one cannot easily be too copious in reflections upon it. And behold, fays our SAVIOUR, a certain Samaritan as he journeyed came where he was; and when he faw him he had compaffion on him and went to him bound up his wounds, pouring

fet him upon

pouring in oil and winehis own beast, brought him to an inn: and took care of him. I fuppofe, it will be scarce neceffary here to remind you that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans an old religious grudge

the worst of all grudges, had wrought fuch a diflike between both people, that they held themselves mutually difcharged. not only from all offices of friendship and kindness, but even from the most common acts of courtefy and good manners. This operated fo ftrongly in our SAVIOUR's time, that the woman of Samaria feemed aftonished that he, being a Jew, fhould ask water of her who was a Samaritan-fo that with fuch a prepoffeffion, however distressful the cafe of the unfortunate man was, and how reasonably foever he might plead for pity from another man, there was

little

little aid or confolation to be looked for from fo unpromifing a quarter. Alas! after I have been twice paffed by, neglected by men of my own nation and religion bound by fo many ties to affist me, left here friendlefs and unpitied both by a Prieft and Levite, men whofe profeffion and fuperior advantages of knowledge could not leave them. in the dark in what manner they fhould dif charge this debt which my condition claims

after this—what hopes? what expectations from a pallenger, not only a franger,

but a Samaritan released from all obligations to me, and by a national diflike inflamed by mutual ill offices, now made my enemy, and more likely to rejoice at the evils which have fallen upon me, than to stretch forth a band to fave me from them.

'Tis no unnatural foliloquy to imagine; but the actions of generous and

com