considered, as every man should do, because
every man's means are limited, how the greatest quantity of good could
be done with any given sum.

But the worst of all was, he had imbibed certain popular prejudices
respecting the more _religious_ charities; prejudices altogether
unworthy of his enlightened mind. He too much limited his ideas of
bounty to bodily wants. This distinction was not with him, as it is with
many, invented as an argument for saving his money, which he most
willingly bestowed for feeding and clothing the necessitous. But as to
the propriety of affording them religious instruction, he owned he had
not made up his mind. He had some doubts whether it were a duty. Whether
it were a benefit he had still stronger doubts; adding that he should
begin to consider the subject more attentively than he had yet done.

Mrs. Stanley in reply, said, "I am but a poor casuist, Sir John, and I
must refer you to Mr. Stanley for abler arguments than I can use. I will
venture, however, to say, that even on your own ground it appears to be
a pressing duty. If sin be the cause of so large a portion of the
miseries of human life, must not that be the noblest charity which
cures, or lessens, or prevents sin? And are not they the truest
benefactors even to the bodies of men, who by their religious exertions
to prevent the corruption of vice, prevent also in some measure that
poverty and disease which are the natural concomitants of vice? If in
endeavoring to make men better, by the infusion of a religious
principle, which shall check idleness, drinking, and extravagance, we
put them in the way to become healthier, and richer, and happier, it
will furnish a practical argument which I am sure will satisfy your
benevolent heart."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Mr. Tyrrel and his nephew called on us this evening, and interrupted a
pleasant and useful conversation on which we were just entering. "Do
you know, Stanley," said Mr. Tyrrel, "that you absolutely corrupted my
nephew, by what passed at your house the other day in favor of reading?
He has ever since been ransacking the shelves for idle books."

"I should be seriously concerned," replied Mr. Stanley, "if any thing I
had said should have drawn Mr. Edward off from more valuable studies, or
diverted him from the important pursuit of religious knowledge."

"Why, to do him justice, and you too," resumed Mr. Tyrrel, "he has since
that conversation begun assiduously to devote hi