Observations on man, his frame, his duty, and his expectations : In two parts. Part. I. Containing observations on the frame of the human body and mind, and on their mutual connexions and influences. Part. II. Containing observations on the duty and expectations of mankind / by David Hartley.

  • David Hartley
Date:
1791
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on man, his frame, his duty, and his expectations : In two parts. Part. I. Containing observations on the frame of the human body and mind, and on their mutual connexions and influences. Part. II. Containing observations on the duty and expectations of mankind / by David Hartley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    604/816 (page 564)
    C 564- ] C O N C L U S I O N. I HAVE now gone through with my obfervations on the frame, duty, and expedlations of man, finifliing them with the doftrine of ultimate, unlimited happinefs to all. This doftrine, if it be true, ought at once to difpel all gloominefs, anxiety, and forrow, from our hearts; and raife them to the higheft pitch of love, adoration, and gratitude towards God, our moft bountiful creator, and merciful father, and the inexhauftible fource of all happinefs and perfe£lion. Here felf-intereft, benevolence, and piety, all concur to move and exalt our affeftions. How happy in himfelf, how benevolent to others, and how thankful to God, ought that man to be, who believes both himfelf and others born to an infinite expe6tation! Since God has bid us rejoice, what can make us forrowful ? Since he has created us for happinefs, what mifery can we fear ? If we be really intended for ultimate unlimited happinefs, it is no matter to a truly refigned perfon, when, or where, or how. Nay, could any of us fully conceive, and be duly influenced by, this glorious expedtation, this infinite balance in our favour, it would be fufficient to deprive all prefent evils of their fling and bitternefs. It would be a fufficient anfwer to the mkv to HctKov, to all our difficulties and anxieties from the folly, vice, and mifery, which we experience in ourfelves, and fee in others, to fay, that they will all end in unbounded knowledge, virtue, and happinefs; and that the progrefs of every individual in his pafTage through an eternal life is from imperfedl to perfeft, particular to general, lefs to greater, finite to infinite, and from the creature to the Creator. But, alas! this is chiefly fpeculation, and mufl be to the bulk of mankind. Whilfl we continue entangled in the fetters of fin, we cannot enjoy the glorious liberty and privileges of the children of God. We cannot exalt ourfelves to heaven, and make a right eftimate of things, from the true point of view, till we get clear of the attrac- tion, and magic influences of the earth. Whence it follows, that this dodrine, how- ever great and glorious in itfelf, in the eye of a being fufficiently advanced in purity and comprehenfion, mull be to us like the book given to St. John, hitter in the belly^ though Jweet in the mouth. The firfl: general view cannot but charm us, however groveling and corrupt our minds may be. But when we begin to digefl; it, when, after mature deliberation, we come to fee its feveral evidences, connexions, and confe- ^ quences