On Charity

When we hear a poor Beggar cry
For food, how can we him deny!
Or if some raiment he do need,
Are we not bound to cloath and feed
Our Christian Brother in distress,
When Charity is blessedness?
Yet Charity does not consist
In alms alone, we must assist
Our friends with Counsel, if need be,
To lead them unto Piety;
And by our own example show,
That we the way to God do know,
Oh! 'tis an acceptable thing,
When we can Souls to Heaven bring;
For though Men can no merit have,
They near it come that Souls do save.