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/503

 how much is to be dreaded from men, bred up without principles, and without employment. He who begs in the street in his infancy, learns only how to rob there in his manhood; and it is certainly very apparent, with how much less difficulty evils are prevented than remedied.

But though we should suppose, what reason and experience sufficiently disprove, that poverty and ignorance were calamities to those only on whom they fall, yet surely the sense of their misery might be sufficient to awaken us to compassion. For who can hear the cries of a naked infant, without remembering that he was himself once equally naked, equally helpless? Who can see the disorders of the ignorant, without remembering that he was born as ignorant as they? And who can forbear to reflect, that he ought to bestow on others those benefits which he received himself? Who, that shall see piety and wisdom promoted by his beneficence, can wish, that what he gives for such uses had been employed in any other manner? As the apostle exhorts to hospitality by observing that some have entertained angels unawares, let us animate ourselves to this charity by the hopes of educating saints. Let us endeavour to reclaim vice, and to improve innocence to holiness; and remember that the day is not far distant, in which our Saviour has promised to consider our gifts to these little ones as given to himself; and that "they who have turned many to righteousness shall shine forth as the sun, for ever and ever.[* note to PP: Missing closing "]

SERMON XX.

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts." 2 iii. 3.

A very little acquaintance with human nature will inform us, that there are few men who can patiently bear the