CONTENTS. Herein is considered the Application of the Productive PART THE SECOND. Herein the Rights of Men are considered: that is, the CHAP. I. THE DIVINE LAW. 1. MAN, at his entrance into life, is altogether helpless. During the earlier years of his existence, he is entirely dependent on those about him for every thing he requires. It is not until advanced considerably in age, that he is able to take his part in the great duties of social life. Arrived at years capable of thinking and acting for himself, inquiries like the following may be supposed to occur to him. Whence came I? Whence originates this vast system, of which I form so inconsiderable a part? For what purpose does it exist? and what is my particular business in it? 2. He perceives, he is one of the last of many generations that have preceded him; and from accounts handed down by past ages, he learns, that the whole Universe proceeded from one great Creator, whom we call God. It is indeed asserted by some, that this truth is discoverable by the light of nature; but this is obviously an error, it being from revelation alone that we acquire it: though thus made known, the light of nature abundantly confirms it. 3. Consequently, however incomprehensible it may be to man's limited faculties, it is obvious that, as God alone is the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity; there must have been some period, prior to the work of creation commencing, when he must have been the only existing Being. As to the time when he first commenced the work of creation, we are wholly ignorant: all that we know is, that other creatures existed before the human race was called into being; and this was probably the case, for a period vastly beyond our limited faculties to conceive. 4. With regard to ourselves, we find the provision Heaven has made for our happiness, is indeed worthy of infinite Wisdom, Power, and Love; God having so constituted us, that we are all capable of deriving felicity from him, and reciprocating it with each other; or in other words, that we are capable of making a large measure of temporal happiness, the preparation to an inexpressibly larger measure of eternal felicity. This is the obligation Heaven lays upon man. Thus only B |