One cannot help considering the world, in the particular of the goods of
fortune, as a kind of lottery; in which some few are entitled to prizes
of different degrees; others, and those by much the greatest part, come
off with little or nothing. Some, like the Fox, have even larger
circumstances than they know what to do with, insomuch that they are
rather a charge and incumbrance than of any true use and pleasure to
them. Others, like the poor Ape's case, are all blank; not having been
so lucky as to draw from the wheel of fortune wherewith to cover their
nakedness, and live with tolerable decency. That these things are left,
in a great measure, by Providence, to the blind uncertain shuffle of
chance, is reasonable to conclude from the unequal distribution of them;
for there is seldom any regard had to true merit upon these occasions;
folly and knavery ride in coaches, while good sense and honesty walk in
the dirt. The all-wise Disposer of events does certainly permit these
things for just and good purposes, which our shallow understanding is
not able to fathom; but, humanly thinking, if the riches and power of
the world were to be always in the hands of the virtuous part of
mankind, they would be more likely to do good with them in their
generation, than the vile sottish wretches who generally enjoy them. A
truly good man would direct all the superfluous part of his wealth, at
least, for the necessities of his fellow-creatures, though there were no
religion which enjoined it: but selfish and avaricious people, who are
always great knaves, how much soever they may have, will never think
they have enough: much less be induced, by any consideration of virtue
and religion, to part with the least farthing for public charity and
beneficence.