WHATEVER plans of liberality we may have before us, it is well not to procrastinate, but to embrace the first opportunity of executing them. When Mr. Baxter lost a thousand pounds, which he had laid up for the erection of a school, he used frequently to mention the misfortune as an incitement to be charitable while God gives the power of bestowing, and considered himself culpable in some degree for having so long delayed the performance of a good action, and suffered his benevolence to be defeated for want of quickness and diligence.
Dr. Tillotson (afterward Archbishop) gave the most exemplary proof of his charity. The revocation of the Edict of Nantz having driven thousands of the Huguenots to England, many of them settled at Canterbury, where their posterity still continued. The king having granted briefs to collect alms for their relief, Dr. T. was peculiarly active in promoting their success; and when Dr. Beverige, one of the Prebendaries of Canterbury, refused to read the briefs, as being contrary to the rubric, he was silenced by Dr. T. with this energetic reply, “Doctor, Doctor, charity is above rubrics.”
351A wealthy merchant having lost by one shipwreck to the value of $7,500, ordered his clerk to distribute $500 among poor ministers and people; adding, that if his fortune was going by $7,500 at a lump, it was high time to make sure of some part of it before it was gone.
Of Dr. Samuel Wright it is said that his charity was conducted upon a rule; for which purpose he kept a purse, in which was found this memorandum: “Something from all the money I receive to be put in this purse for charitable uses. From my salary as a minister, which is uncertain, a tenth part—from occasional and extraordinary gifts, which are more uncertain, a twentieth part—from copy money of things I print, and interest of my estate, a seventh part.”
When a gentleman who had been accustomed to give away some thousands was supposed to be at the point of death, his presumptive heir inquired where his fortune was to be found. To whom he answered that it was “in the pockets of the indigent.”
When some bedding was to be given away to the poor at Olney, a poor woman carried home two pair of blankets, a pair for herself and husband, and a pair for six children. As soon as the children saw them, they jumped out of the straw, caught them in their arms, kissed and blest them, and danced for joy. That same woman, the first night she found herself so comfortably covered, could not sleep a wink, being kept awake by the contrary emotions of transport on the one hand, and fear of not being thankful enough on the other.
A poor cottager, within a few miles of London, who had a wife and six children, was seized for his rent; and whilst the poor woman was imploring the mercy of the officers, a person came by, and inquiring into the cause of her distress, immediately discharged the debt, amounting to eleven pounds, and walked away. For this timely and truly generous action, the distressed family were indebted to a tradesman on Ludgate Hill. The name is concealed, but the action shall not be forgotten.—Sel.