they appear to be in their Consequences. [Sidenote: The Poor.] Having thus gone through the State of this Nation in respect to its Trade, we will next consider it with respect to the Poor. And here it cannot but seem strange that _England_ which so much abounds in Product and Manufactures, besides the Imployment given in Navigation, should want work for any of its People; the _Dutch_ (who have little of the two former if compar'd with us, and do not exceed us in the latter) suffer no Beggars; whereas we whose Wealth consists in the labour of our Inhabitants seem to encourage them in an idle way of living, contrary both to their own and the Nation's Interest: Idleness though it cannot be called the Image of the Devil, who is a busie active Spirit, yet fits for any Impression, for whilst People neglect by some honest Labour to serve the publick Good, they too often fall on such Courses as render them publick Evils: _Livy_ (that famous Historiographer) observed it was the greatest Sedition that ever was in _Rome_, when the Citizens went about with their Hands in their Pockets, and would do nothing: Hence it is that so many die Spectacles at _Tyburn_, and offer themselves up Victims to Vice, no councels could perswade nor Examples fright them from those evil Habits they had contracted by Idleness: The Curse under which Man first fell was Labour, _That by the Sweat of his Brows he should eat his Bread_; this is a State of Happiness if compared to that which attends Idleness; he that walks the Streets of _London_, and observes the Fatigues used by the Beggars to make themselves seem Objects of Charity, must conclude that they take more pains than an honest Man doth at his Trade, and yet seem to me not to get Bread to eat; and I wish that was all the Encouragement they met with, I fear it is not, such swarms of idle Drones would not then fill the Streets, who are a Nursery of Vice: Beggary is now become an Art or Mystery, to which Children are educated from their Cradles; any thing which may move Compassion seems a livelihood, a sore Leg or Arm, or (for want thereof) a pretended one; the Tricks and Devices I have observed therein have often made me think that those parts if better imployed might be more useful to the _Common-Wealth_. In handling this subject let us consider, 1. What hath been the cause of this Mischief of Idleness, and how it hath crept in on the Nation. 2. What must be done to restrain it from growing farther. 3. What Methods may be used to provide for those who are past their Labours.