Page:The Works of Samuel Johnson ... A journey to the Hebrides. The vision of Theodore, the hermit of Teneriffe. The fountains. Prayers and meditations. Sermons.v. 10-11. Parliamentary debates.pdf/495

 sordid insensibility, and, by indulging every consideration which can be applied to the justification of parsimony, harden their hearts, and withhold their hands; and while they see the anguish of misery, and hear the cries of want, can pass by without pity, and without regard; and without even feeling any reproaches from their hearts, pray to God for that mercy which they have themselves denied to their fellow-beings.

One of the pleas, which is alleged in justification of the neglect of charity, is inability to practise it; an excuse, when real, to which no objection can be made; for it cannot be expected, that any man should give to another what he must himself want in the same degree. But this excuse is too frequently offered by those who are poor only in their own opinion, who have habituated themselves to look on those that are above, rather than on those that are below them, and cannot account themselves rich, while they see any richer; men who measure their revenues, not by the wants of nature, but by the demands of vanity! and who have nothing to give, only because they will not diminish any particle of their splendour, nor reduce the pomp of their equipage; who, while their tables are heaped with delicacies, and their houses crowded with festal assemblies, suffer the poor to languish in the streets in miseries and in want, complain that their fortunes are not equal to the generosity of their minds, and applaud their own inclinations to charity and mercy; inclinations which are never exerted in beneficence, because they cannot spare any thing from their appetites and their pride.

Others there are, who frequently delight to dwell upon the excellency of charity, and profess themselves ready to comply with its precepts, whenever proper objects shall be proposed, and an opportunity of proper application shall be found; but they pretend that they are so well informed, with regard to the perversion of charity, and discover so many ill effects of indistinguishing and careless liberality, that they are not easily satisfied with the occasions which are offered them. They are sometimes afraid of en