The Dignity of Human Nature, Or, A Brief Account of the Certain and Established Means for Attaining the True End of Our Existence

That there is, notwithstanding this, an absolute, independent Rectitude,
and the contrary, in the Actions of moral agents, separate from all
Consideration of consequent Happiness, or Misery, which Rectitude
is founded in the Divine Attribute of Rectitude

That however, the natural consequences of Actions, are in general a

very sufficient Criterion, by which to try, whether they be morally

good or evil

No possible Scheme for bringing the human Species to a spontaneous

Choice of Virtue, or to a due Concurrence in their Sphere, with the

general Intention of the Governor of the World: but Discipline

That Human Virtue consists in the proper Application, and due Im-
provement, of our several Powers

ib.

268

269

ib.

Human Liberty of Agency established, and Objections answered

Probable that all created, rational Beings are formed to Virtue in the

same Manner as our Species, to wit, by Discipline, and Habit

270

272

SECTION V.

That the State, we find ourselves in, is very proper for a state of Dis-

cipline in Virtue

273

Various Instructions for this purpose presented to us by Nature, by

our own Bodies and Minds, by the Constitution and Course of the

World, and above all by Revelation

274

Difficulties to be expected, and even to be looked upon as a Beauty,

in a Scheme so august and extensive

The whole Species formed naturally capable of future Happiness

Difficulties in the Divine Economy of the moral World attempted to

288

That our Species, and all rational Agents, in order to their perform-

ing their Part properly, and contributing to Universal Perfection and

Happiness, must resolve to act agreeably to the threefold Obliga-

tion, which they are under, to wit, with regard to Themselves, their

Fellow creatures, and their Creator

Page

290

Our Duty, with respect to Ourselves, consists in the proper Care of
the two Parts of our Nature, the mental and the bodily
Of the Passions or Motions of the Mind

ib.

292

Previous Directions necessary toward the due Regulation of the Passions 293

Absurdity of Pride, and Advantages of Humility

295

Necessity of Self-knowledge, and of Self-reverence

General Rule for the Conduct of the Passions

298

300

Of the Passion of Love, or Desire, its proper Objects, and due Regulation ib.

Of Self-love

302

Of Ambition, or Desire of Praise

Of the Passions of Envy, Malice, and Revenge

Of the Love of Riches

311

Of the Appetites of Hunger and Thirst, the Use and Abuse of them

312

Of the mutual Desires of the Sexes

316

Of the Love of Sleep and Indulgence-of Diversions—and of Finery in

Dress

319

SECTION VII.

Of our Obligations with respect to our Fellow-creatures, the Foundation

of all which Duties is Benevolence

323

Self-love, why made the Measure of our Benevolence

Summary of our Duty to our Fellow-creatures

Of Negative Goodness

Of Justice and Injustice, with respect to our Neighbour's property-to
bis Reputation to his Person--and to his Soul

Of social Duties, and first, Of the Love of our Country

Reciprocal Duties of Parents and Children-of Spiritual Pastors and
their Flocks-of Teachers and Scholars of Masters and Servants-of
Husbands and Wives-of collateral Relations-of Friends-of the
Rich and poor

Duty of the Wise and learned, and all who are possessed of uncom

Talents and Advantages

Divine Intention in engaging us in such a Variety of Connexions
Self-examination on the foregoing Heads recommended

SECTION VIII.

Of our Obligations with respect to our Creator; and first, Of impres-

sing our Minds with a rational and practical Belief of his Existence

Of his Right to our Obedience and Adoration

351

352

Useful Moral Reflections on the Divine Attributes

354

On the Omnipresence of God-his Eternity-his Power-his Wisdom-

and his Goodness

355

Of the Duty of Prayer, and Objections answered

366

372

Of Public Worship

• Improvement of the Understanding treated of in the foregoing Book.

Of Family Religion

Of Praising God

Amazing Stupidity of Numbers of Mankind, who altogether neglect their

Creator, and all the Duty they owe him

SECTION IX.

One Hundred and Sixty Miscellaneous Thoughts, and Directions, chiefly

OF REVEALED RELIGION.

That supposing it possible, or probable, that a Revelation may have

been given by God, it is a Duty of Natural Religion to inquire

with Candour, into its Pretensions, and to give it a proper Reception 397

That there is nothing absurd, or incredible, in supposing that a Re-

velation may have been given

398

Of the Guilt of wilfully opposing, or neglecting, a Revelation from God 599

Of the Wisdom of attending to Revelation

A direct Revealed Law highly proper and fit for such Beings as Mankind

Revelation given as a Part of our Trial and Discipline

The World probably never wholly without a Revelation

Previous Requisites for a proper Inquiry into Revelation

SECTION I.

Previous Objections against a Revelation in general, and that of Scripture

in particular, considered. And first, Of the Need Mankind stood in, of

express Information from Heaven, in answer to the Objection of the

Sufficiency of Human Reason for all Moral Purposes

The Hottentots, and other barbarous Nations, the only fair Examples of

the Reach of mere Human Reason; most Parts of the civilized World

having been party illuminated by Revelation, and therefore not altogeth-

er in a State of Nature

in which Revelation was but litti known

ib.

Of the State of the Antediluvian and succeeding Times, and Countries,

Of the Incapacity of mere Human Reason, in religious Matters, as it

ppears in the Mahometan and Popish Inventions

Revelation not intended to supersede, but improve Reason

Objection, of the Abuse of Revelation, by weak or designing Men,

Of its being unworthy of the Divine Wisdom to have Recourse to an

extraordi, ary Interposition

410

Revelation analogous to the Constitution and Course of the World

Absurdity of opposing Revelation on account of its not suiting our pre-con-

ceived Notions

411

412

Dculties to be expected in a Revelation from God

414

Difficulties no objection; though direct bsurdities and Contradictions are 416

That Revelation might be expected to suit our Notions in some particu-
lars and in others to differ from them

ib.

Of the Scripture-Style

419

SECTION II.

A Compendious View of the Scheme of Divine Revelation.

Thoughts on the Extent of the Prospect opened by Revelation

The Accounts given by it, plainly superior to Human Sagacity

Of the Creation-the Fall, and Death, its Consequence of the first Pro-

phecy of a future Restoration of Mankind-of the general Deluge-the

Noachic Dispensation-the Tower of Babel-the Destruction of the Ci-

421

422

423

ties of the plain-the call of Abraham-the miraculous History of his

Postery the Israelites and Jews—the Divine Dispensation to that People

-and the Christian Scheme

Pag

424

436

Consideration on some Particulars in Revealed Religion

The Doctrine of Providence, though a Point of Natural Religion, more
properly considered under Revelation; as receiving from thence its chief
Confirmations

Arguments for its Truth, first, from Reason, as from the Necessity of a

continued Divine Interposition, and Agency, in the Natural World

Other Arguments and Presumptions from Reason

Best established by Revelation

The Difficulties relating to the Effects of the Fall, upon the Species in gen-

ib.