No More Learning

Man, like the generous vine, supported lives;
The strength he gains is from the embrace he gives.
On their own axis as the planets run,
Yet make at once their circle round the sun;
So two consistent motions act the soul;
And one regards itself, and one the whole.
Thus God and Nature linked the general frame,
And bade self-love and social be the same.


ARGUMENT OF EPISTLE IV.


Of the Nature and State of Man with respect to Happiness.

I. False Notions of Happiness, Philosophical and Popular, answered from
v. 19 to 77. II. It is the End of all Men, and attainable by all, v. 30.
God intends Happiness to be equal; and to be so, it must be social, since
all particular Happiness depends on general, and since He governs by
general, not particular Laws, v. 37. As it is necessary for Order, and
the peace and welfare of Society, that external goods should be unequal,
Happiness is not made to consist in these, v. 51.
But, notwithstanding
that inequality, the balance of Happiness among Mankind is kept even by
Providence, by the two Passions of Hope and Fear, v. 70. III. What the
Happiness of Individuals is, as far as is consistent with the
constitution of this world; and that the good Man has here the advantage,
V. 77. The error of imputing to Virtue what are only the calamities of
Nature or of Fortune, v. 94. IV. The folly of expecting that God should
alter His general Laws in favour of particulars, v. 121. V. That we are
not judges who are good; but that, whoever they are, they must be
happiest, v. 133, etc. VI. That external goods are not the proper
rewards, but often inconsistent with, or destructive of Virtue, v. 165.