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.

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

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

By Jove the stranger and the poor are sent,
And what to those we give, to Jove is lent.

By Jove the stranger and the poor are sent,
And what to those we give, to Jove is lent.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by
interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was read more

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by
interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good
works and almsdeeds which she did.

It never was our guise
To slight the poor, or aught humane despise.

It never was our guise
To slight the poor, or aught humane despise.

Scatter plenty o'er a smiling land.

Scatter plenty o'er a smiling land.

Our lives are to be used and thus to be lived as fully as possible, and truly it seems that read more

Our lives are to be used and thus to be lived as fully as possible, and truly it seems that we are never so alive as when we concern ourselves with other people.

Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,
Heaven did a recompense as largely send;
He gave read more

Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,
Heaven did a recompense as largely send;
He gave to misery (all he had) a tear,
He gain'd from Heaven ('twas all he wish'd) a friend.

Shut not thy purse-strings always against painted distress.

Shut not thy purse-strings always against painted distress.