Two Dissertations Concerning the the World and Virtue, Title page – Table of contents
TWO DISSERTATIONS,
I. Concerning the END for which GOD created the WORLD.
II. The Nature of TRUE VIRTUE.
By the late REVEREND, LEARNED and PIOUS JONATHAN EDWARDS, A. M. PRESIDENT of the COLLEGE in NEW-JERSEY.
BOSTON: Printed and Sold by S. KNEELAND, oppoſite to the Probate-Office in Queen-Street.
M,DCC,LXV.
THE PREFACE
THE author had deſigned theſe diſſertations for the public view; and wrote them out as they now appear: though 'tis probable, that if his life had been ſpared, he would have reviſed them and rendred them in ſome reſpects more compleat. Some new ſentiments, here and there, might probably have been added; and ſome paſſages brightened with farther illuſtrations. This may be conjectured from ſome brief hints, or ſentiments minuted down, on looſe papers, found in the manuſcripts.
BUT thoſe ſentiments conciſely ſketch'd out, which, 'tis thought, the author intended to enlarge, and digeſt into the body of the work,—cannot be ſo amplified by any other hand, as to do juſtice to the author: 'tis therefore probably beſt that nothing of this kind ſhould be attempted.
AS theſe diſſertations were more eſpecially deſign'd for the learned and inquiſitive, 'tis expected that the judicious and candid will not be diſpoſed to object that the manner in which theſe ſubjects are treated, is ſomething above the level of common readers. For though a ſuperficial way of diſcourſe and looſe harrangues may well enough ſuit ſome ſubjects, and anſwer ſome valuable purpoſes; yet other ſubjects demand more cloſeneſs and accuracy. And if an author ſhould neglect to do juſtice to a ſubject, for fear that the ſimpler ſort ſhould not fully underſtand him, he might expect to be deemed a trifler by the more intelligent.
OUR author had a rare talent to penetrate deep in ſearch of truth; to take an extenſive ſurvey of a ſubject, and look through it into remote conſequences. Hence many theorems, that appeared hard and barren to others, were to him pleaſant and fruitful fields, where his mind would expatiate with peculiar caſe, profit and entertainment. Thoſe ſtudies, which to ſome were too fatiguing to the mind, and wearing to the conſtitution, were to him but a natural play of genius; and which his mind without labor would freely and ſpontaneouſly perform. A cloſe and concluſive way of reaſoning upon a controverſial point was eaſy and natural to him.
THIS may ſerve, tis conceiv'd, to account for his uſual manner of treating abſtruſe and controverted ſubjects, which ſome have thought has been too metaphyſical. But the truth is, that his critical method of looking through the nature of his ſubject; his accuracy and preciſion in convaſſing truth, comparing ideas, drawing conſequences, pointing out and expoſing abſurdities,—naturally led him to reduce the evidence in favor of truth into the form of demonſtration. Which doubtleſs, where it can be obtained, is the moſt eligible, and by far the moſt ſatisfying to great and noble minds. And though ſome readers may find the labor hard to keep pace with the writer, in the advances he makes, where the aſcent is arduous; yet in general all was eaſy to him: ſuch was his peculiar love and diſcernment of truth and natural propenſity to ſearch after it. His own ideas were clear to him, where ſome readers have thought them obſcure. Thus many things in the works of Newton and Locke, which appear either quite unintelligible, or very obſcure to the illiterate, were clear and bright to thoſe illuſtrious authors, and their learned readers.
THE ſubjects here handled are ſublime and important. The end which God had in view in creating the world, was doubtleſs worthy of him; and conſequently the moſt excellent and glorious poſſible. This therefore muſt be worthy to be known by all the intelligent creation, as excellent in itſelf, and worthy of their purſuit. And as true virtue diſtinguiſhes the inhabitants of heaven and all the happy candidates for that world of glory, from all others;—there cannot ſurely be a more intereſting ſubject.
THE notions which ſome men entertain concerning God's end in creating the world, and concerning true virtue, in our late author's opinion, have a natural tendency to corrupt chriſtianity, and to deſtroy the goſpel of our divine redeemer. It was therefore, no doubt, in the exerciſe of a pious concern for the honor and glory of God, and a tender reſpect to the beſt intereſts of his fellow men, that this devout and learned writer undertook the following work.
MAY the father of lights, ſmile upon the pious and benevolent aims and labors of his ſervant and crown them with his bleſſing!
July 12. 1765. The Editor.
ERRATA
PAge 16 line 24. before notice add no. p. 42. 1. 23. F. lovelineſs, r. love. p. 43. 1. 29 after upon. r. as to. p 47 l. 3. f. but, r. than. p. 122. l. 24. r. underſtand p. 128. l. 22. r. nature p. 132. l. 27. r. heart.
The CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION, containing explanations of terms and general poſitions. p. 1.
CHAP. I. Wherein is conſidered what reaſon teaches concerning this affair.
SECT. I. Some things obſerved in general, which reaſon dictates. p. 11.
SECT. II. Some further obſervations concerning thoſe things which reaſon leads us to ſuppoſe God aimed at in the creation of the world—p. 19.
SECT. III. Wherein it is conſidered how, on the ſuppoſition of God's making the forementioned things his laſt end, he manifeſts a ſupreme and ultimate regard to himſelf in all his works. p. 24.
SECT. IV. Some objections conſidered which may be made againſt the reaſonableneſs of what has been ſaid of God's making himſelf his laſt end. P. 32
CHAP. II. Wherein it is enquired what is to be learned from holy ſcriptures, concerning God's laſt end in the creation of the world.
SECT. I. The ſcriptures repreſent God as making himſelf his own laſt end in the creation of the world. p. 50.
SECT. II. Wherein ſome poſitions are advanced concerning a juſt method of arguing in this affair, from what we find in holy ſcriptures. p. 51.
SECT. III. Particular texts of ſcripture, which ſhew that God's glory is an ultimate end of the creation. p. 57.
SECT. IV. Places of ſcripture that lead us to ſuppoſe that God created the world for his NAME, to make his perfections known, and that he made it for his praiſe. p. 75.
SECT. V. Places of ſcripture from whence it may be argued, that communication of good to the creature, was one thing which God had in view as an ultimate end of the creation of the world. p. 86.
SECT VI. Wherein is conſidered what is meant by the glory of God, and the name of God in ſcripture, when ſpoken of as God's end in his works. p. 93.
SECT. VII. Shewing that the ultimate end in the creation of the world, is BUT ONE, and what THAT ONE END IS. p. 106.
CONTENTS of the II. Diſſertation.
CHAP. I. SHewing wherein the eſſence of true virtue conſiſts. p. 116.
CHAP. II. Shewing how that love wherein true virtue conſiſts, reſpects the divine Being and created Beings. p. 125.
CHAP. III. Concerning the ſecondary and inferior kind of beauty. p. 134.
CHAP. IV. Of ſelf-love and its various influence, to cauſe love to others, or the contrary. p. 145.
CHAP. V. Of natural conſcience, and the moral ſenſe. p. 158.
CHAP. VI. Of particular inſtincts of nature, which in ſome reſpects reſemble virtue. p. 168.
CHAP. VII. The reaſon why thoſe things which have been mentioned, which have not the eſſence of virtue have yet by many been miſtaken for true virtue. p. 175.
CHAP. VIII. In what reſpects virtue or moral good is founded in ſentiment, and how far it is founded in the reaſon and nature of things. p. 184.