CONTENTS

OF

THE SECOND VOLUME.

PART II.

ON THE WISDOM OF THE CREATOR.

Introduction. Statement of the Attributes.. Modes of

proving them à priori, and from the Works of the

Creation. (Page 1.)

CHAP. I.

On the Wisdom af the Creator, (Page 6.)

Instances from the few Principles employed to execute his

Purposes in the natural World. Attraction, Gasses, Rare-

faction, Condensation, &c.

Probability that similar Laws extend to the human Race.

CHAP. II.

On the Design of the Creator as to Man's Existence

upon Earth. (Page 16.)

That he might exercise his Faculties and Virtues. Proof,

vi

from the improvable Reason which distinguishes Mankind
from all other Animals. Remarks on the Fallacy of the
Scale of Existence. Faculty of improvement useless,
without a Situation fit to call it forth.

Purpose of this improvement, a higher State of Existence.
Proofs from Reason and Revelation.

Statement of the proposed Argument.

CHAP. III.

Whether Equality or Inequality of Ranks and Fortunes

is the situation best suited to the Developement and

Improvement of the human Faculties. (Page 31.)

Proofs in favour of Inequality: from the low State of So-

ciety wherever Equality exists. North and South Ameri-

cans. Reason of this analyzed. Effects of Example,

and Emulation, arising from Division of Property. In-

stances from Pelew Islanders. Progress of Civilization.

Superiority of civilized Life.

Contrary Opinion of Godwin considered. Desire of better-

ing the individual Condition, shown to be the only Spur

of Industry. Case of Sparta considered, and of Peru.

Use of Slaves in those Communities. Conclusion in fa-

vour of unequal Fortunes, Ranks, and Conditions.

CHAP. IV.

Whether Equality or Inequality of Ranks and Fortunes

is the Condition best suited to the Exercise of Virtue.

(Page 85.)

Effect of a Community of Goods upon the Opportunities of
Virtue. Nature of Virtue examined. Rewardable Vir-
tue supposes Difficulty. Opportunities to practical Virtue

in civil Society.

Duties of the Rich; of the middle

Ranks; of the Poor. Difference between Poverty and
Indigence. Case of Peruvian Society supposed. Low
State to which it would reduce Mankind. Conclusion in
favour of various Conditions.

CHAP. V.

On the Principle of Population, and its Effects: in-

tended to show that Man is inevitably placed in

that Condition which is most calculated to improve his

Faculties, and afford Opportunities for the Exercise

of Virtue. (Page 113.)

Statement of the Principle under every Condition of So-
ciety. Its Effect universal, in bringing the Population up
to the Supply of Food. First Result of the Principle,
the Division of Property. Mode of Operation exem-
plified, in the Case of a Single Family, for whose increase
the allotted District is too small. This the date of the Re-
cognition of Property among the existing Families.

II. This Division of Property is followed by the Division of
Ranks through the Effect of casual Misfortunes, and
moral Habits, causing Property, at first equal, to run
into large Masses. Vain Attempts in the ancient Repub-
lics to obviate this Tendency. Inequality becomes more
striking in the Progress of Civilization.

These Effects dependent upon the relative Ratio of the In-

crease of Population, and of human Sustenance. Their

Consequence, individual Exertion.

Law of Increase, a Law of Design.

Wisdom of the Ordinance.

CHAP. VI.

On the collateral Effects of the Principle of Popula-

tion. (Page 157.)

Objections against the Dispensation.

Evil accompanying it, belongs to an imperfect State.

Proofs from

Its collateral Advantages. I. Universal Industry. A sti-
mulus to exertion necessary to Mankind.
Experience.

A Compensation is made in the Advantages
derived from the Division of Labour.

II. Second collateral Benefit, the Communication of Arts

and natural Productions. Case of mere Reproduction

supposed; its Consequences. Advantage of Migrations.

Instances, from Countries with and without Communica-

tion: also from a View of the present state of the World;

Asiatic Russia; Southern Asia: Africa; America. Dif-

fusion of Christianity.

Adaptation of the Principle of Population to peculiar Cir-

cumstances of every Society. Its Operation not severe or

coercive.

Recapitulation of the Argument. Concluding Remarks.

PART III.

CHAP. I.

On the Goodness of the Creator. (Page 205.)

Proofs of a benevolent Design in the Creator, from the

Constitution of Mankind.

Argument à priori.

Sceptical Objections from the Appearance of the World.

Proofs of benevolent Intention from the Gratifications at-

tached to our Nature, both bodily, and secondly, intel-

lectual; sufficient to fix the Onus probandi on the other

Side.

Objections from the Existence of Evil.

CHAP. II.

The present Existence of Mankind considered as a State

of moral Trial. (Page 223.)

General Determination in favour of Virtue.

Statement of the Question. That Mankind are not placed

in the best conceivable State, conceded; but in a State of

Probation.

Probable Reasons of such a Dispensation.

Trial necessary to future Reward. Instance in the Call of

Abraham, &c.

Difference of tried and untried Virtue.

Degree of Evil not greater than was necessary to the Purpose
of Discipline. Analogy from the Persecutions of the early
Christians.

Justice of placing Mankind in this State of moral Trial,

argued.

CHAP. III.

On the Goodness of God displayed in the Christian Dis-

pensation. (Page 261.)

The Sacrifice of Christ, a Scheme to obviate the fatal Effects

of Sin.

The Influence of Grace, to counteract the moral Weakness

consequent upon the Fall.