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THE RELATIVE DUTIES OF MANKIND. [Part III.

(5.) Another principle, not less essential than either of thepreceding, is, that where there are relatives of the poor , who areable to provide for them , almsgiving should not be permitted tointerfere with the duties of such relatives. If the alms areevil, worse than thrown away, which operate as substitutes forindustry and economy, in a still higher sense are they evil, be-cause conducing to greater sin, where they interfere with, andsupersede the demand for, the affections and duties, which belongto the near relations in which God places us in this world. *

It is the will of God, that, as far as they can, parents shouldprovide for their children. It is equally his will, if parents fallinto a condition of dependence, and there are children who areable, even at the cost of much labor and self-denial, to takecharge of them, that parents, under these circumstances, shall besupported by their children. Law and right, indeed, require thissupport from more distant relatives of the impotent poor. Law,however, independent of a higher principle, cannot do much inthis case. The duty is one of high moral character , and assuch is to be early and universally inculcated. So it has beeninculcated in Scotland ; and the consequence is, that, where thereare no poor-laws, and no parish assessments in that country, thecare of the people for their own poor relatives goes far to super-sede the necessity of any other provision for them. Legal andother artificial provision for the poor, greatly checks and restrainsthe natural sympathies of relatives with each other’s necessities.They also paralyze public sentiment upon the subject of dutyin the case ; and induce a tacit approval of turning over poorrelatives upon public charity, even where it ought to cover theindividuals, who are guilty of it, with shame and disgrace. Weought to do all we can to counteract this insensibility ; to call upand strengthen the affections by which relatives should be boundto each other, and to show our respect for those who are faithfulto the offices of kindred and neighbourhood. Here, as in thecases before adverted to, a judicious respect, and a kindly wordof encouragement, are a far better tribute, than would be themost abundant alms.

1 Timothy v. 8.