An Enquiry After Happiness

inevitably have diforder'd the contexture of a long difcourfe, if I should have charged my memory with the contrivance and connexion of fo many and various parts at once: and I forefaw, that all the ftrength of my mind, which Should be collected and united in the treating every fingle argument, would be unprofitably Spent in diftracted, divided, and imperfect efforts.

THE

INTRODUCTION;

OR, A

Brief SCHEME of the Defign of the WHOLE WORK.

O inform man what is his true and proper happiness, and to mark out before him the right way to it, hath been, and ever muft be, the aim of all philofophy, and all religion; and yet so numerous have been and are the disputes on this fubject, and fo feemingly infuperable the dif ficulties which encounter us in every way, that the defpair of attaining happiness, at least in this world, feems almoft as univerfal as the defire of it: and as nature will never give over the purfuit of it, fo will man never forbear the tragical complaints of his difappointments, and the raving exaggerations of human mifery. That therefore I may attempt at leaft, to treat this fubject fatisfactorily, I will endea

vour,

Sect. 1. To fhew you, that happiness is not a mere airy and imaginary notion; but is a real ftate, and really attainable; and that our disappointments and unsuccessfulness must be imputed to ourfelves: and this fhall be the work of this present volume.'

Sect. 2. To explain the nature of happiness, to examine wherein it confists, and what is the high-way

to it in which to proceed fuccefsfully, I thought the plaineft method I could take, would be this, to fix and define the notion of the most abfolute and compleat happiness, that fo we might difcern what it behoved us to aim at, and how near we could approach the perfection of happiness. Now, the most perfect idea of happiness that the mind of man can frame, is this: Happiness is the state of a perfect being in the unmix'd, uninterrupted, and eternal enjoyment of the most perfect pleasure: fuch I conceive to be the happiness of God himself.

In this definition there are three parts, which manifeftly appear to be the ingredients of a divine happiness.

First, Perfection of being. Secondly, Freedom from trouble. Thirdly, Eternal enjoyment of the most perfect pleasure.

It's therefore now evident, that to discover the nature of human happiness, and the way to it, I am obliged to discourse,

1. Of the being of man, and its perfection.
2. Of indolence, or freedom from pain or trouble.
3. Of fruition, or the enjoyment of pleasure.

Each of which shall be the fubject of a distinct volume. And because there may some questions arise of a more general nature; fuch as, Whether every man's particular happiness ought to be dearer to him than the happiness of another; or whatever else can be imagined? Secondly, On fuppofal that an entire happiness cannot be attained; what part then of it ought to be preferr'd? and fuch like: I will therefore,

Sect. 3. Affign a particular volume for the difcuffion of fuch questions, and the establishment of fuch inferences as will naturally refult from the former discourses.

THE

CONTENTS.

SECT. I.

F the motives to this enquiry, and of the objec-
tions which may be form'd against it.

Chap. 1. The importance, the neceffity of it. Page 1.

Chap. 2. Objections against this enquiry.

1. Happiness too divine a ftate for man to afpire after.

2. The utmoft happiness of this life, fo trifling and

inconfiderable, that it cannot recompenfe our time and

travail. 3. There is no need of ftudy or enquiry after

happiness, nature and cuftom being the best guides to

it. 4. The great variety there is in the nature of man,