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Chapter IX
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255 u c h a p t e r i x u It now remains to enquire what may be fairly and justly concluded from human nature, and the present constitution of things concerning death or the dissolution of our bodily frame? In order to determine which question, we need only state the phenomenon in a true light. And thus it stands. “We are by nature excellently equipped and furnished for attaining to a very considerable degree of moral perfection, or of knowledge and virtue by the due culture of our natural endowments; and are placed in a very proper situation for that effect, even by having relation to, and communion with the sensible world by means of our bodies: but our bodies are made liable to dissolution: they are not made to endure for ever; but must wear out, and may be destroyed while they are yet sound and vigorous, by different kinds of violence, in consequence of their structure and subjection tothelawsof matterandmotion.”This is the truth of the case. What judgment then is it reasonable to form of this phenomenon, or of this state and tendency of things with regard to mankind? Futuritya is wisely hid from us; it is not fit that infants should know whether they are to live to old age and foresee the fortunes of their lives: In general, it is not fit for us to know such good or bad accidents as are to happen us in consequence of the laws of the sensible a. See Cicero de divinatione, Lib. 2. No. 9. Atque ego ne utilem quidem arbitror esse nobis futurarum rerum scientiam. Quae enim vita fuisset Priamo, si ab adulescentia scisset, quos eventus senectutis esset habiturus? &c. [Cicero, De divinatione, II.ix.22: “And further, for my part, I think that a knowledge of the future would be a disadvantage. Consider, for example, what Priam’s life would have been if he had known from youth what dire events his old age held in store for him!”] Let us now enquire what judgment ought to be formed concerning death: The phenomenon fairly stated. Futurity is wisely hid from us. 256 part i world, or our social connexions which are in the nature of things unavoidable. Prudens futuri temporis exitum, Caliginosa nocte premit Deus.81 Or as our own Poet has it, Heav’n from all creatures hides the book of fate, All but the page prescrib’d, their present state, From brutes what men, from men what spirits know, Or who could suffer being here below? Oh! blindness to the future! kindly giv’n, That each may fill the circle mark’d by heav’n. Essay on man, Epist. 182 We know, or may know enough of the settled order and succession of things for the regulation of our conduct, that is, for the common exigencies of natural life, and for avoiding the bad consequences of folly and vice, and reaping the good fruits of prudence and virtue; and that, it is evident, is all the foresight which is convenient, or can be pleasant to us, and therefore our duty and business is as the Poet expresses it. ——— Quod adest memento Componere aequus.83 Now for the same wise reasons that future events in this present life are hid from us, the particular events which are to happen to us after death; that is, the various scenes or changes of being we may be intended to pass through after leaving this state, are likewise beyond our forecast. But tho’ our future state cannot be fully foreseen by us, because such knowledge would neither be agreeable nor convenient for us; yet 81. Horace, Odes, III.xxix.29–30: “With wise purpose does the god bury in the shades of night the future’s outcome.” Horace, Odes andEpodes, trans.C.E.Bennett, Loeb Classical Library (Cambridge and London: Harvard University Press, 1968). 82. Pope, Essay on Man, I.77–80, 85–86. 83. Horace, Odes, III.xxix.32–33: “Remember to settle with tranquil heart the problem of the hour!” [44.210.237.223] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 09:17 GMT) chapter ix 257 from the present state, we may infer very probably that death is not a total dissolution of our moral powers and their acquirements, but that these do survive our bodies. Because, 1. The dissolution of our bodies is no more than putting an end to our communication with the sensible world, or to one kind of ideas we...