AN ESSAY ON CHARITY- SCHOOLS. 11 be kept in ignorance, that so knowing nothing but what they are bid, they may do their work without reasoning about it. Answer 1. Shall I argue a little against this objection, upon the mere principle of compassion and pity? .If weconsider how many thousands of the poor, both men andwomen in this nation, are stupidly ignorant of every thing that belongs to religion and morality, and know nothingof the true life of a reasonable crea- ture, who are almost perfect heathens in a christian country, surely it must raise some compassion in our hearts toward them ; have we any tenderness about our souls, and yet refuse to do any thing to prevent the young rising generation from being im- mersed in the same stupid ignorance and gross errors about the things of God and man ? Or, can we be content to see multi- tudes of mankind growing up wild and thoughtless of their best interests, and, perishing by thousands, from one generation to another, for want of light and knowledge ? 2. Give me leave yet farther, to talk with such objectors upon the foot of that golden rule, which our Saviour gave to all his disciples ; Mat. vii. 12. Is this dealing with others, as you would have others deal with you ? Is this advice concerning the poor, such as your yourselves would think reasonable and agree- able to the rules of christian charity and goodness, if you had been born in the midst of extreme poverty and ignorance, and had several wealthy neighbours near you, who could relieve your miseryat so easy a rate ? Turn the tables a little, and set your- selves for a moment in the place of the poorest creature, and then enquire, whether you would think it a kind and equitable con- duct in your wealthy neighbours, who call themselves Christians, tobind you for ever down to a state of darkness, and discourage the charity of others, who would give you a lift from the deeps of ignorance ? And must every soul of mankind who is born in poverty, be confined to live without knowledge? Suppose one in twenty should give some very promising prospect of an un- common ingenuity andsense, must lie be confined with his fellows to the same darkness and drudgery for ever ? Let it be consi- dered, that the God of nature has distributed genius, capacity, and sprightliness of mind with a promiscuous hand among the rich and the poor. The same God is the Maker of them both ; Prov. xxii. 2. and he has not always made the richest to be the brightest of men. There maybe here and there a fine and spark- ling genius born in cottages ; there may be some bright souls amongst the poorest of mortals : These may, perhaps, by good cultivation, grow up into honourable and useful members in the church or state : We have had surprising instances of this kind in our day. And why should not such sprightly children, if I may so express it, have their chance to rise in the world? And be put into a capacity of exerting their powers for the service or
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