SjS STUDIES OF NATURE. 



that every thing which has the femblance of deli- 

 cious and tranfpoiting in our pleafures, arofe from 

 the fentiment of infinity, or of fome other attribute 

 of Deity, which difcovered itfelf to us, as the 

 termination of our perfpedive. 1 have demon- 

 ftrated, on the contrary, that the fource of our mi- 

 feries, and of our errors, might be traced up to 

 this, That, in the focial ftate, we frequently crofs 

 thofe natural fentiments, by the prejudices of edu- 

 cation and of fociety : fo that, in many cafes, we 

 make the fentiment of infinity to bear upon the 

 tranfient objefts of this World, and that of our 

 frailty and mifery, upon the immortal plans of 

 Nature. I have only glanced at this rich and fu- 

 blime fubjed ; but I affert with confidence, that 

 by purfuing this track (imply, I have fufficiently 

 proved the necelTity of virtue, and that I have in- 

 dicated it*s real fource, not where our modern 

 Philofophers feek for it, namely, in our political 

 inftitutions, which are often diametrically oppofitc 

 to it, but in the natural Itate of Man, and in his 

 own heart. 



I have afterwards applied, with what ability I 

 poffefs, the aftion of thefe two powers to the hap- 

 pinefs of Society, by fliewing, firft, that mofl of 

 the ills we endure are only focial re-adions, all of 

 which have their grand origin, in overgrown pro- 

 perty, in employments^ in honours, in money," and 



in 



