er, that the human race
is, as to time and nature, but as one totality; for, since every man
and woman had two parents, each parent two parents, and so on in
geometrical progression, hence every individual, high or low, must
necessarily be descended from every individual of the whole population
as it existed but a few hundred years before, whether they were high
or low, virtuous or abandoned; while every procreative individual of
the existing race must be the actual progenitor of the entire race
which may exist at the same distance of future time. What motives for
charity, for forbearing from injuries, for benevolence, for universal
love.

* * * * *

The bed of sickness, with its increased sensibility of nerves, is
a delicate test of man's conscience, and of self-approbation or
reprobation. Requiring sympathy himself, he now sympathizes with
others; and, unable to direct his thoughts to external things, they
are forced upon himself. Great is then his solace, and efficacious his
medicines, if he has no other reflections than such as are supplied by
his justice, liberality, and benevolence; but accumulated will be his
sufferings, and dangerous the result, if crimes and misdeeds force
themselves at such a time on his mind; while in any delirium of fever
he will rave on those subjects, and, without vision, will often
perceive, by the mere excitement of his brain, the spectres of the
injured making grimaces before him.

* * * * *

If you are rich, and want to enjoy the exalted luxury of relieving
distress, go to the Bankrupt Court, to the Court for Insolvent
Debtors, to the gaols, the work-houses, and the hospitals. If you are
rich and childless, and want heirs, look to the same assemblages of
misfortune; for all are not culpable who appear in the Bankrupt and
Insolvent Lists; nor all criminal who are found in gaols; nor all
improvident who are inmates of work-houses and hospitals. On the
contrary, in these situations, an alloy of vice is mixed with virtue
enough to afford materials for as deep tragedies as ever poet fancied
or stage exhibited; and visiters of relief would act the part of
angels descending from Heaven among men, whose chief affliction is the
neglect of unthinking affluence.

* * * * *

Marriage is a circumstance of life, which, in its actual course,
involves the feelings and fortunes of human beings more than