Philosophy of the Human Mind. 29 



and education of the individual; that by means of 

 the diffusion of knowledge, and the adoption of 

 better principles and modes of education, the im- 

 provement of man in intellect, in virtue, and in 

 bappiness, will go on to an illimitable extent; that, 

 at length, mind shall become " omnipotent over 

 matter," perfect enjoyment assume the place of 

 present suffering, and human life, instead of being 

 bounded by a few years, be protracted to immor- 

 tality, or at least to an indefinite duration. 



This system is unsupported by any facts; it is 

 contrary to all the experience of mankind;" it is 

 opposed to every principle of human nature, and it 

 is scarcely necessary to add, to the plainest dic- 

 tates of Revelation . That man may, and probably 

 will, make great improvements hereafter, in sci- 

 ence and art, is readily admitted. That we can- 

 not presume to assign the bounds of this improve- 

 ment, is also admitted. But that there will be 

 absolutely, no bounds to it, or, which is the same 

 thing as to the argument, that it will go on be- 

 yond all assignable or conceivable limits, is to sup- 

 pose the constitution of man essentially changed, 

 his present wants, habits, and mode of subsistence 

 totally superseded, and a nature conferred upon 

 him wholly different from that which his Creator 

 gave him. But as the doctrines held by the advo- 

 cates of human perfectibility become still more im- 

 portant when considered with respect to their 

 moral and political application, the further consi- 

 deration of their extravagance, weakness, and in- 

 consistency, and the injurious consequences arising 



x It is somewhat curious that many of those who adopt the opinion con- 

 cerning man which is here opposed, believe, at the same time, that this 

 world has existed from eternity. If, amidst eternal revolutions, and eter- 

 nal progress, mankind have not yet risen above the grade at which we 

 now behold them, there seems little encouragement to hope for any thing 

 like what they anticipate in future. 



