more sparing, perhaps, than his circumstances necessarily require, that he may "have to give to him that needeth," Eph. iv. 28; when he "labours in order to support the weak," Acts xx. 35; such care of his affairs is itself charity, and the actual beneficence which it enables him to practise, is additional charity.
You will easily see, why I insist thus upon these things, because I would particularly recommend the good work before us to all ranks of people in this great city. And I think I have reason to do so, from the consideration, that it very particularly belongs to them to promote it. The gospel, indeed, teaches us to look upon every one in distress as our neighbour, yet neighbourhood, in the literal sense, and likewise several other circumstances, are providential recommendations of such and such charities, and excitements to them; without which the necessitous would suffer much more than they do at present For our general disposition to beneficence would not be sufficiently directed, and, in other respects, would be very ineffectual, if it were not called forth into action by some or other of those providential circumstances, which form particular relations between the rich and the poor, and are of course regarded by every one in some degree. But, though many persons among you, both in the way of contributions, and in other ways no less useful, have done even more than was to be expected, yet I must be allowed to say, that I do not think the relation the inhabitants of this city bear to the persons for whom our Infirmary was principally designed, is sufficiently attended to by the generality; which may be owing to its late establishment. It is, you know, designed principally for "diseased manufacturers, seamen in merchant service, and their wives and children;" and poor manufacturers comprehend all who are employed in any labour whatever, belonging to trade and commerce. The description of these objects shows their relation, and a very near one it is to you, my neighbours, the inhabitants of
