that really want it, as fit Objects; at proper Times and Seasons alfo for their Relief, without expofing the Neceffities of the Receivers. He confers his Benefits upon those that either highly deferve them at his Hands, or stand in great Need of them through Poverty, Affliction, or Unrighteousness; for the remarkable Merits of their Integrity, Learning, or some other excellent Qualifications of Mind. He diftributes his Favours and Courtefies among thofe that he thinks worthy of his Obliging, or honouring with his benign Converfation and Correspondence; for their farther Benefit, Recommendation, or Advancement to better Fortune in the World. He takes it for granted, that there is more Honour in Giving, than in Receiving; and yet, without ftinting this extenfive Virtue only to the former Act, ftill allowing, that a thankful Perfon obliged, may be juftly deem'd liberal too in many Refpects, as well as his kind Obliger or bountiful Benefactor. But where his Power fails; his good Will always makes amends for the Want of it, according to his best Wishes. His generous Intention is a fufficient Obligation for the Deed fo fufficient of it felf without A&tion, that it requires no lefs Gratitude by the Dif appointment or Inability. However yet, whatfoever he can do, is always heartily well done, with the quickest Dispatch, gaiest Grace, and most agreeable good Humour of Generosity. There are no To-morrows, no Put-offs in his expeditious Kindnesses. His Courtesy is as fpeedy as his Welcome, his Favour granted upon Sight, and his Friendship often given without asking. The Donor meets the Receiver half-way; fo that a Man might reasonably que

queftion, Whether of the Two were more in Hafte, the one to give, or the other to receive. This liberal Hero looks upon it as a felfish Life, not to ftudy the Benefit and Advantage of his Neighbour, as well as his own Grandeur. He believes Gentlemen of the greatest Estates, either real or perfonal, to be no more by right Reafon, than God Almighty's Trustees; for the Relief of needy People with their fuperfluous Subftance. He knows, that all the old, mufty, mouldy, or rufty Bags in a Mifer's Coffers, are not comparable to the Splendid Shilling, for Want of Ufe and Circulation. What fignify useless and unprofitable Riches, which are changing Masters every Day? And indeed they commonly fall at laft into the Hands of Prodigals, as well as new Poffeffors. Giving of Money to the Poor, is only lending to the Lord, as the Scripture fays; and honeftly refunding it to the First Giver: Or perhaps to the right Owner again, that was formerly cheated on't by fome Injuftice. But, in fhort, the Rich may well fpare fomething out of their wealthy Hoards to comfort the Indigent, upon this fole Account and Encouragement; that the Remainder will, in all Likelihood, thrive the better for it.

KINGS and Governours ought to be both charitable and liberal above all other Perfons, being bleft with the greatest Abilities; whereby they may not only procure to themselves, the univerfal Love and good Will of their People; but also inrich their Subjects, and glorify their Dominions. Such a noble minded generous Prince as this, will become the Darling of their Hearts and Affections; the great Comforter of his native Country, and the chief Establisher of it in Peace, Plenty and Profpe

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rity. But, He that witholdeth Good from them, to whom it is due; when it is in the Power of his Hand to do it, effectually without Procraftination: And, He, that being often reprov'd, hardneth his Neck, fhall fuddenly be deftroy'd; and that without Remedy. For, when the Righteous are in Authority, the People rejoyce; but when the Wicked beareth Rule, the People mourn, Prov. Chap. III. Ver. 27. Chap. XXIX. Ver. 1, 2. And well may they mourn e'er long, both in Sackcloth and Afhes through that Land; where publick Spirit, Faith, Credit, Intereft and Trade, are all a-perifhing; when common Hofpitality feems to be declining apace, or caft quite out of Doors; good Houfe-keeping dif us'd, retrench'd or thrown almoft out of Fafhion; and either their Money remov'd, as it were, to another Market at a Distance, or their Riches tranfplanted to a different Quarter of the World. When a Nation happens to fall into fuch a fad, deplorable, or miferable Condition of State; then it will be high Time for the Inhabitants to go to Prayers immediately with good Reason, and beg that God would avert their impending Poverty, as well as other threatning Plagues.

BUT then it highly behoves a wife Prince, after all, to make a right Ufe of his Liberalities; not to be too tenacious and covetous, nor prodigal in giving his Bounties; not to abuse 'em in unlawful Delights, nor lavish them in Favour of the Wicked and Unworthy; not to bestow them upon Vanities or Unneceffaries, nor to deny them niggardly to the neceffitous, indigent Objects of Charity in a County, Corporation or Kingdom. The Poor are principally intitled to his noble Liberality; which

does

does not confift in wafting of his Wealth; but in fuccouring the Afflicted, Difeas'd, Diftreffed, Perfecuted and Prifoners, with a gracious Willingness of Mind, for the general Good of the Common-Wealth. Not but that a poor Man himself may also be as liberal, or bountiful as a Prince, in fome Cafes, according to his whole Power and Capacity. For the Widow's Mite was the greatest Gift in the World, all Circumftances confider'd, in the Judgment of God. The vastest Prefents of the Rich did not come up to her little All. Her Penury made it more acceptable than their Abundance. However, the Romans, by an inviolable Law, would not fuffer the Prefumption in any Man, to make a publick Feaft; unless he had first provided plentifully for all the Poor of his Parish. They accounted it the most shameful Scandal of their Common-Wealth, to fee any Perfon a-begging in their Streets. Divine Plato charges that Town with having Thieves and Church Robbers in it, where there were any Beggars. And can we wealthy Chriftians feaft or banquet with any Satisfaction, upon hearing the pitiful Cries or Complaints of poor, mendicant, helpless, fick, ftarving Creatures at our Gates; at our very Doors?

LET us rather imitate the great Epaminondas's Generofity; who finding out a Man that inrich'd himself by robbing the Government, and fhew'd no Regard for the Poor; compelled him immediately to pay an honeft needy Fellow Six Hundred Crowns down upon the Nail. Cimon's famous Liberality will never be forgotten; who made his House a Hospital to his poor Country men, for their respective Nourishment, and the Relief of their feveral

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Neceflities; in Regard of their paft, excellent military Services. Alexander made himself almost an univerfal Monarch, or at leaft Mafter of Three Parts of the World, by the Nobleness of his Diftribution of all his Demains among his beloved Macedonians; besides his other memorable Bounties. Lo the great Regard he had for Learning! Behold his Gratitude of presenting Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Crowns to his Tutor Ariftotle; as a fmall Reward for his incomparable Inftruction, Knowledge and Virtue! Such a Pupil; fuch a Præceptor! To fay no more. Inftances would be innumerable and endless; among feveral of the Cafars, and Grecian as well as Roman Emperors: I had like to have faid, our own too Liberal STUARTS alfo; but Affliction ftops my Mouth. However, I muft not omit mentioning, as briefly as I can; for fear of injuring both Antiquity and Hiftory: The remarkable Memory of Archelaus, King of Macedonia; who gave a Gold-Cup that a Minion at Court begged of him, to Euripides; with this fevere Reprimand, that He was worthy to ask and be deny'd, but the other deferving Perfon was worthy of the Gift without asking: Of Antigonus the older; who was importunately defir'd by a good for nothing-Fellow, to give him a Drachm; why, fays he judiciously enough, That is too small a Gift for a King; and then the other asking him again for a Talent, he told the Simpleton, That was too great a One for a Counterfeit, who only fet up for a pretended Cynick: Of liberal Titus, in fine; who never flept at Night, without practising this noble Virtue of giving and doing Good every Day, according to the

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