Shut not thy purse-strings always against painted distress.

Shut not thy purse-strings always against painted distress.

Careless their merits or their faults to scan,
His pity gave ere charity began.

Careless their merits or their faults to scan,
His pity gave ere charity began.

Alas! for the rarity
Of Christian charity
Under the sun.
Oh! it was pitiful!
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Alas! for the rarity
Of Christian charity
Under the sun.
Oh! it was pitiful!
Near a whole city full,
Home had she none.

To pity distress it but human; to relieve it is Godlike.

To pity distress it but human; to relieve it is Godlike.

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of
them: otherwise ye have no read more

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of
them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in
heaven.

In misery's darkest caverns known,
His useful care was ever nigh,
Where hopeless Anguish pour'd his groan,
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In misery's darkest caverns known,
His useful care was ever nigh,
Where hopeless Anguish pour'd his groan,
And lonely want retir'd to die.

Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence, of this
virtue.

Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence, of this
virtue.

He believed that he was born, not for himself, but for the whole
world.
[Lat., Nec sibi sed read more

He believed that he was born, not for himself, but for the whole
world.
[Lat., Nec sibi sed toti genitum se credere mundo.]

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.