goes under the general name of charity, as it consists in relieving
the indigent: that being a trial of this kind which offers itself
to us almost at all times and in every place.

I should propose it as a rule, to every one who is provided with any
competency of fortune more than sufficient for the necessaries of
life, to lay aside a certain portion of his income for the use of
the poor. This I would look upon as an offering to Him who has a
right to the whole, for the use of those whom, in the passage
hereafter mentioned, He has described as His own representatives
upon earth. At the same time, we should manage our charity with
such prudence and caution, that we may not hurt our own friends or
relations whilst we are doing good to those who are strangers to us.

This may possibly be explained better by an example than by a rule.

Eugenius is a man of a universal good nature, and generous beyond
the extent of his fortune; but withal so prudent in the economy of
his affairs, that what goes out in charity is made up by good
management. Eugenius has what the world calls two hundred pounds a
year; but never values himself above nine-score, as not thinking he
has a right to the tenth part, which he always appropriates to
charitable uses. To this sum he frequently makes other voluntary
additions, insomuch, that in a good year--for such he accounts those
in which he has been able to make greater bounties than ordinary--he
has given above twice that sum to the sickly and indigent. Eugenius
prescribes to himself many particular days of fasting and
abstinence, in order to increase his private bank of charity, and
sets aside what would be the current expenses of those times for the
use of the poor. He often goes afoot where his business calls him,