Page:Whole works of joseph butler.djvu/292

261 admonitions of their spiritual guide, and the quiet and order of their house, out of the way of bad examples, together with a regular course of devotion, which it were greatly to be wished might be daily; these means, it is to be hoped, with the common grace of God, may enforce deeply upon their consciences those serious considerations, to which a state of affliction naturally renders the mind attentive; and that they will return, as from a religious retreat, to their several employments in the world, with lasting impressions of piety in their hearts. By such united advantages, which these poor creatures can in no sort have any other way, very remarkable reformations have been wrought. Persons of the strictest characters, therefore, would give a more Satisfactory proof, not to the world, but to their own consciences, of their desire to suppress vice and idleness, by setting themselves to cultivate the religious part of the institutions of infirmaries, which, I think, would admit of great improvements, than by allowing themselves to talk in a manner which tends to discountenance either the institution itself, or any particular branch of it.

Admitting, then, the usefulness and necessity of these kinds of charity, which, indeed, cannot be denied; yet everything has its bounds. And, in the spirit of severity before mentioned, it is imagined that people are enough disposed (such, it seems, is the present term,) to contribute largely to them. And some, whether from dislike of the charities themselves, or from mere profligateness, think "these formal recommendations of them at church every year might very well be spared."

But surely it is desirable, that a customary way should be kept open for removing prejudices, as they may arise, against these institutions; for rectifying any misrepresentations which may, at any time, be made of them; and informing the public of any new emergencies; as well as for repeatedly enforcing the known obligations of charity, and the excellency of this particular kind of it. Then sermons,