Chap. V. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 287 



If we believe that the Almighty is good as well as wife, we rniuft 

 likewife believe that his intention is to make all his creatures happy, 

 fo far forth as is confiftent with general Laws, without which it is im- 

 pofliblc that there can be a fyftem of Nature. Further, it is impofTible 

 but that Intelligent and Senfitive Beings, who alone are capable of 

 happinefs or mifery, muft, if they be in adion, feel either pleafure or 

 pain, and,confequently, muft, in fome degree, be either happy or mi- 

 ferable. And, therefore, as our Senfitive and Intelligent parts are un- 

 doubtedly adive in our Sleep, it is impoffible that ftate can be indif- 

 ferent to us, but muft be a fource either of happinefs or mifery. 

 Moreover, by the conftitution of our Nature, Virtue neceflarily makes 

 our Happinefs, and Vice our Mifery ; and", if they make the Happi- 

 nefs or Mifery of our Waking Life, it would be extraordinary if they 

 had no influence either way upon our Life in Sleep. But it has been 

 Ihown * that the Dreams of a wicked man make a great part of his 

 Mifery ; and, indeed, without them, he could not be faid to be com- 

 pletely miferabJe. Now, it would be a ftrange order of things, and 

 a very unequal diftribution of rewards and puniftiments, if they did 

 not likewife make part of the happinefs of a virtuous man ; and, 

 that they do fo, I think I have likewife fhown : And, indeed, it is 

 impoffible, by the nature of things, but that there fhould be a con- 

 formity betwixt our Sleeping and our Waking Thoughts ; and, as the 

 Waking Thoughts of the virtuous man are far better and happier, 

 fo muft alfo his Sleeping Thoughts be. As few men, however, very 

 few, are virtuous in any high d^^ gree, and fewer ftiil are philofo- 

 phers, it cannot be expefted that we fhould enjoy any great happi- 

 nefs in our Sleep, any more than Waking. But I maintain, that a 

 man, who has good fecial affedions, and has love and friendihip in 

 his nature, and whofe Body is not difordered by an unnatural diet 

 and an Improper manner of living, will pafs many a plealant night 

 in his Sleep, with friends and relations whom he loves and efteems, 



and 



• Page 274. 275. 



