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THE PREFACE,

A DUE care for the relief of the Poor is an act, 1. of great piety towards Almighty God, who requires it of us: he hath left the poor as his pupils, and the rich as his stewards to provide for them: It is one of thofe great tributes that he juftly requires from the rest of mankind; which, because they cannot pay to him, he hath scattered the poor amongst the rest of mankind as his fubftitutes and receivers.

2. It is an act of greatest humanity among men. Mercy and benignity is due to the very beasts that ferve us, much more to those that are partakers of the fame common nature with us.

3. It is an act of great civil prudence and political wisdom ; for poverty in itself is apt to emafculate the minds of men, or at least it makes men tumultuous and unquiet. Where there are many very poor, the rich cannot long or fafely continue fuch; neceffity renders men of phlegmatic and dull natures ftupid and indifciplinable; and men of more fiery or active conftitutions rapacious and desperate.

At this day it feems to me that the English nation is more deficient in their prudent provifion for the poor than any other cultivated and chriftian ftate; at least that have fo many opportunities and advantages to fupply them,

In fome other countries a beggar is a rare fight, those that are unable to maintain themfelves by age or impotency are relieved. And thofe that are able to supply their wants by their labour are furnished with employments fuitable to their condition.

And by this means there is not only a good and orderly education and a decent face of the public; but the more populous the state or country is, the richer and the more wealthy it is.

But with us in England, for want of a due regulation of things, the more populous we are the poorer we are; fo that, that wherein the ftrength and wealth of a kingdom confifts, renders us the weaker and the poorer,

And

And which is yet worse, poor families which daily multiply in the kingdom for want of a due order for their employment in an honeft courfe of life, whereby they may gain fubfiftence for them and their children, do unavoidably bring up their children either in a trade of begging or stealing, or fuch other idle courfe, which again they propagate to their children, and fo there is a fucceffive multiplication of hurtful or at least unprofitable people, neither capable of discipline nor beneficial employment.

It is true we have very fevere laws against begging, the very giver being in some cases subject to a penalty by the ftatute of 1. Jac. cap. 17. But it takes little effect. And indeed as the cafe ftands with us, it is no reafon it should: for what man that is of ability can have the conscience to deny an alms, or to bring a wanderer to the punishment directed by that ftatute, and the ftatute of 39 Eliz. when he cannot choose but know that there is not that due course provided, or at leaft ufed, that perfons neceffitous and able to work may have it; indeed were there a clear means practifed for the employing poor perfons, it were an uncharitable action to relieve them in a course of idleness. But when I do not know there is fuch a provifion, I dare not deny, my relief, because I know not whether without it he may be ftarved with hunger, without his own default.

We have also very fevere laws against theft, poffibly more fevere than most other nations, yea, and than the offence in itself fimply confidered deferves; and there is little to be faid in the defence of the feverity of the law herein, but the multitude of the offenders and the defign of the law rather to terrify than to punifh, ut metus in omnes, poena in paucos 1: but it is moft apparent that the law is fruftrated of its defign therein; for although more fuffer at one feffions at Newgate for stealing and breaking up houfes, and picking of pockets, and fuch other larcenies out of the protection of clergy, than fuffer in fome other countries for all offences in three years, yet the jails are never the emptier; neceffity, and poverty, and want of a due provifion for the employment of indigent perfons, and the custom of a loofe and idle life, daily fupply with advantage the number of thofe who are taken off by the fentence of the law and doubtlefs as the multitude of poor, and neceffitous, and uneducated perfons, increase, the multitude of malefactors will increafe, notwithstanding the examples of severity.

So that upon the whole account, the prudence of preThat the punishment of a few may operate as a warning to all. vention,

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vention, as it is more chriftian, fo it will be more effectual than the prudence of remedy: the prevention of poverty, idlenefs, and a loose and diforderly education, even of poor children, would do more good to this kingdom than all the gibbets, and cauterizations, and whipping-pofts, and jails in this kingdom, and would render thefe kinds of difciplines lefs neceffary and lefs frequent.

But hitherto I am in generals, which rarely profper into action of conviction: I therefore fhall confider principally these things:

1. What provifions there are already fettled by the laws in force for the relief and employment of the poor.

2. Wherein the defects are, in relation to those laws or provisions, and the confequences thereof.

3. What may be thought a convenient fupply of those defects, and the confequences of fuch fupplies.

A DISCOURSE

TOUCHING

PROVISION FOR THE POOR.

CHAP. I.

TOUCHING THE LAWS AT PRESENT IN FORCE FOR THE RELIEF AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE POOR.

THE laws relating to the poor are of two kinds, viz. 1. Such as concern the relief of the aged, and impotent, that are not able by their labour to maintain themselves. 2. Such as concern the employment and setting of work of fuch as are able. And this latter, as fhall be fhewn, is the more comprehenfive and beneficial charity, although both are neceflary and become us, both as men and as chriftians much more touching the former of thefe, viz. the relief of the impotent poor, the laws of England have provided a double remedy. Firft, by giving great encouragement to voluntary undertakings of good and liberal minds in this kind,. 2. by compulfory means upon all.

;

Again as touching the former of these, the ftatute of 39 Eliz. cap. 5. has given a great encouragement to fuch as fhall erect hofpitals, houfes of correction, and maisons de dieu. And the ftatutes of 39. Eliz. cap. 6. and 43. Eliz. cap. 4. have taken fpecial care for the due employment of gifts to charitable uses. And certainly fuch voluntary affignations argue an excellent aud charitable mind in thofe that fhall fo voluntarily give; and the ftatutes have given a fair encouragement to the charities of men in this kind. But this provifion doth but little in order to relief: for, L. for the moft part fuch hofpitals extend but to a few aged perfons limited to fome particular town, unless it be in the large hofpitals in London, where there is fome provifion more extenfive in respect both of number and age, as St. Thomas's hofpital, Chrift Church hofpital, and fome others. 2. But befides this thofe are but voluntary and not compulsory; although there may be fome that may be charitably minded, yet for the most part men are backward in works of charity; felf

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