208 REMARKS ON MR. COMBE's " CONSTITUTION OF MAN." 



ledge would be less advantageous to man than the mere capacity 

 which he actually has to acquire knowledge by his own exertions ; 

 and that the laws of the external world will, in the progress of dis- 

 covery, be found accordant with the dictates of the moral sentiments. 

 To obtain enjoyment in the greatest quantity, and to maintain it 

 most permanently, the mental faculties must be gratified in harmony 

 with each other, in the exercise of their proper functions. 



In treating of the application of the natural laws to the practical 

 arrangements of life, Mr. C. suggests a scheme of living and occupa- 

 tion for the human race. According to this scheme, every day 

 ought to be so apportioned as to permit of bodily exercise, of the 

 useful employment of the intellectual powers, of the cultivation and 

 gratification of the moral and religious sentiments, and of taking 

 food and sleep. His elucidation of the question, to what extent are 

 the miseries of mankind referable to infringement of the physical, orga- 

 nic, and moral laws ? is elaborate and highly instructive ; and, in con- 

 nexion with this discussion, he obviates the objection that the great 

 body of mankind is not sufficiently moral and intellectual to act in 

 conformity with the natural laws. He admits that the more igno- 

 rant and careless men are, their sufferings are generally the greater ; 

 hence, the manifest necessity for so enlightening the intellect as to 

 enable it to curb and direct the blind feelings which naturally and 

 spontaneously arise in the mind. Before the human constitution 

 can become as perfect as possible, it must spring from a sound and 

 complete germ ; be supplied regularly with genial food, air, and 

 light; and duly exercise its projier functions. The frame of man is 

 so constituted as to admit of the possibility of health and vigour 

 during a long life ; and many reasons exist to show that nature does 

 not intend the death of human beings, except in old age. Untimely 

 dissolution is the result of the infringement of the natural laws; and 

 the divine institution which inflicts pain and disease, as punishments 

 for transgressing them, is founded in benevolence and wisdom — ^for; 

 if death, in the early and middle periods of life, is an arrangement 

 for withdrawing the transgressor from further suffering, and from 

 transmitting to offspring the consequences of such transgressions^ 

 the institution of death itself is evidently both wise and benevolent. 



While discussing the calamities which arise from infringements of 

 the moral law, Mr. Combe points out the cause of the diversity of 

 moral and religious codes in different nations, and among philo- 

 sophers; and, at the same time, he innumerates the advantages which 

 may be secured by cultivating the moral sentiments and intellect, 

 and by acting in compliance with the dictates of these, the highe? 



