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    what he possesses as he pleased ; and would show how , as every man knows his own interest best , and as the interest of the public is that of congregated individuals , the part of justice and benevolence is to interfere with none in the direction of their owa concerns . He would show that the principle of benevolence

    varies in its application according to the position of events ; an 4 that almsgiving , however appropriate an act of benevolence in so peculiar a polity as that of the Jews , is not a virtuous deed at present , if it can be proved to create more misery than it relieves ; and such proof he would afford . These explanations , out of the pulpit , would add force to his Sunday eloquence , instead of nul- » lifying it .

    No words can describe the evil of proceeding on a false prin- ^ ciple , or of erring in the application of a right one , in concern ^ so momentous as those of society ; and there is , therefore , no limiting the responsibilities of all its members for the mode in which they employ their influence * This responsibility cannot be evaded , for every individual has influence ; the obligation to learn how to employ this influence cannot , therefore , be evaded , To show what individuals may do of good or harm , we will adduce one case .

    Mr . Sadler , a man who , by some means or other , has acquired a degree of influence to which his qualifications do not entitle him , and which cannot be long maintained , finds that there was once a divine command to ** increase and multiply , and replenish the earth . " This command was as appropriate as possible when issued ; viz ., when a family stepped out of the Ark into a depopulated world , \ Hiere food might be had , next season , for the

    gathering , and where the deficiency was of human beings , and not of produce . Mr . Sadler chooses to apply this command to our country at the present time , where food is scarce in proportion to the population , and there is not employment enough to enable the poor to surmount the restrictions which deprive them of foreign grain . If Mr . Sadler can effect the removal of these restrictions , or if he can transport the supposed subjects of

    the command to lands which want replenishing , his principle may hold good ; but he is bound to do these things before he advocates a now untenable principle . If his advice , as it now stands , be followed , he may have the questionable honour of having added to our population some thousands , born in wretchedness , reared in vice , and expiring the victims of want or crime .

    Compare with the deeds of Mr , Sadler those of Arkwright ; he is computed to have added a million to the permanent population of Great Britain . But how ? By providing the employment which was to support them . Arkwright , by furnishing the support of a permanent million , calls them into a life which may be honest , useful , and . enjoyable . Sadler , by encouraging an increase of some thousands previously to providing the means of

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    3 & t On , the H ) uty of Studying PoHUeat Economy .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1832, page 30, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1804/page/30/