The Lord Chief Justice HALE, (that great composition of learning and vertue) in his Discourse for Imploying the Poor, saith, "1. THEY that are rich, are stewards of their wealth; and they that " are vise, are stewards of their wisdom unto that great Master of the Family of Heaven and Earth, to whom they must give an account of "both; and one (I am sure) of the best accounts they can give of both, "is to employ them in the reformation and relief of those that want "both, or either; (Am I my brother's keeper, was the answer of one of "the worst of men.) “2. It would be a work of great humanity, we owe to those of our own nature as we are men, and that as well becomes a Christian as 46 auy, and the ill provision for the poor in England one of the greatest "reproaches to our Christian profession. "3. The want of a due provision for education and relief of the poor "in a way of industry, is that which fills the gaols with malefactors, "and the kingdom with idle persons that consume the stock of the "kingdom, without improving it; and that will daily encrease, even to “a DESOLATION in time: And this errour in the first concoction, is 66 never remediable but by gibbets and whipping; but a sound, prudent "method for an industrious education of the poor, will give a better "remedy against these corruptions, than all the gibbets and whipping66 posts in this kingdom; but as necessitous and un-educated persons "increase, the multitude of malefactors will increase, notwithstanding "the examples of severity." THE CONTENTS. 2. To the Thinking and Publick Spirited. 3. The Introduction, with Reasons for providing 4. A Specimen, shewing the Way of doing it in a 5. Proposals to the Colledge-Founders. 6. Some of the Advantages to the Founders and To the LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in Parliament. HE cries and miseries of some, and idleness THE and lewdness of others of the poor, and the charge the nation is at for them being great, hath encouraged me to present You with some proposals of embodying the poor so together, that thereby they may be made of equal value to money (by their raising a plentiful supply of all conveniencies of life.) And by this example the parish rates, and many commons, may be most profitably imploy'd, and the present hospitals of England may be greatly improved, and also from it the most successful fishery may be raised, and our manufactures best and fully wrought in our own nation: I do not say it may be increased to make England the mart and treasury of Europe, but that time and practice may shew the profit one or two such colledges will bring. I humbly pray You would please to consider it, and as may be agreeable to your wisdom, (like the summer sun to a fruitful tree) ripen 6 these proposals to the nations advantage. Or when any subscribers to such a Colledge shall petition You (for their better government, and not to exclude others) to incorporate them, You would please to grant it. And if several models shall be proposed to You, that private persons will undertake; with submission, I conceive it's the publick's interest they have encouragement, because the nation will then have the advantage of following what their experience shall prove the best method, if You shall not think fit to make any of them more national before. John Bellers. |