Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

VIII. How much farther this order and subordination living creatures may extend, above and below us; we any part of which broken, not that part only, but t whole connected creation, must be destroyed, ver. 233. I The extravagance, madness, and pride of such a desir ver. 250. X. The consequence of all the absolute su mission, due to providence, both as to our present ar future state, ver. 281, &c. to the end.

ARGUMENT OF EPISTLE II.

Of the Nature and State of Man, with respect to himself a an Individual.

1. The business of man not to pry into God, but to study himself. His middle nature; his powers and frailties ver. 1 to 19. The limits of his capacity, ver. 19, &c. II. The two principles of man, self-love and reason, both necessary, ver. 53, &c. Self-love the stronger, and why, ver 67. &c. Their end the same, ver. 81. &c. III. The pas sions, and their use, ver. 93 to 130. The predominant passion, and its force, ver. 132 to 160. Its necessity, in directing men to different purposes, ver. 165, &c. Its providentia in fixing our principle and ascertaining our virtue ver. 177. IV. Virtue and vice joined in our mixed nature; the limits near, yet the things separate and evident. What is the office of reason, ver. 202 to 216. V. How odious vice in itself, and how we deceive ourselves into it, ver. 217. VI. That, however, the ends of Providence and general good are answered in our passions and imperfec

rise;

[ocr errors]

tions, ver. 238, &c. How usefully these are distributed to all orders of men, ver. 241. How useful they are to society, ver. 251. And to individuals, ver. 263. In every state, and every age of life, ver. 273, &c.

ARGUMENT OF EPISTLE III.

Of the Nature and State of Man, with respect to Society.

I. THF whole Universe one system of society, ver. 7, &c. Nothing made wholly for itself, nor yet wholly for another, ver. 27. The happiness of animals mutual, ver. 49. II. Reason or instinct operates alike to the good of each individual, ver. 79. Reason or instinct operates also to society, in all animals, ver. 109. III. How far society is carried by instinct, ver. 115. How much farther by reason, ver. 128. IV. Of that which is called the state of nature, ver. 144. Reason instructed by instinct in the invention of arts, ver. 166, and in the forms of society, ver. 176. V. Origin of political societies, ver. 190. Origin of monarchy, ver. 207. Patriarchal government, ver. 212 VI. Origin of true religion and government, from the same principle of love, ver. 231, &c. Origin of superstition and tyranny, from the same principle of fear, ver. 237. &c. The influence of self-love operating to the social and public good, ver. 266. Restoration of true religion and government on their first principle, ver. 285. Mixt government, ver. 288. Various forms of each, and the true end of all, ver, 300, &c.

ARGUMENT OF EPISTLE IV.

Of the Nature and State of Man, with respect to Happiness.

I. FALSE notions of Happiness, philosophical and popular, answered from ver. 19 to 27. II. It is the end of all men, and attainable by all, ver. 30. God intends happiness to be equal; and to be so, it must be social, since all particular happiness depends on general, and since he governs by general, not particular laws, ver. 37. As it is necessary for order, and the peace and welfare of society, that external goods should be unequal, happiness is not made to consist in these, ver. 51. But notwithstanding that inequality, the balance of happiness among mankind is kept even by Providence, by the two passions of hope and fear, ver. 70. III. What the happiness of individuals is, as far as is consistent with the constitution of this world; and that the good man has here the advantage, ver. 77. The error of imputing to virtue what are only the calamities of nature, or of fortune, ver. 94. IV. The folly of expecting that God should alter his general laws in favour of particulars, ver. 121. V. That we are not judges who are good; but that whoever they are, they must be happiest, ver. 133, &c. VI. That external goods are not the proper rewards, but often inconsistent with, or destructive of, virtue, ver. 167. That even these can make no man happy without virtue: Instanced in riches, ver. 183. Honours, ver. 193. Nobility, ver. 205. Greatness, ver. 217. Fame, ver. 237. Superior talents, ver. 259, &c. With pictures of human infelicity in men possessed of them all, ver. 269, &c. VII. That virtue only

nstitutes a happiness whose object is universal, and hose prospect eternal, ver. 309. That the perfection of Hirtue and Happiness consists in a conformity to the order Providence here, and a resignation to it here and hereter, ver. 326.

AN

Essay on Man.

EPISTLE I.

AWAKE! my St. John! leave all meaner things
To low ambition, and the pride of kings.
Let us (since life can little more supply
Than just to look about us and to die)
Expatiate free o'er all this scene of man;
A mighty maze! but not without a plan;

A wild, where weeds and flow'rs promiscuous shoot,
Or garden, tempting with forbidden fruit.
Together let us beat this ample field,

Try what the open, what the covert yield;

10

The latent tracts, the giddy heights explore

Of all who blindly creep, or sightless soar;

Eye nature's walks, shoot folly as it flies,
And catch the manners living as they rise;
Laugh where we must, be candid where we can,
But vindicate the ways of God to man:

15

I. Say first, of God above, or man below, What can we reason, but from what we know? Of man what see we, but his station here, From which to reason, or to which refer?

20

« ZurückWeiter »