The true original scheme of human economy, applied to the completion of different interests, and preservation, of the British Empire : or, Heads, proposing the establishment of the third, the British dispensation

Front matter

speciAL coLLecrioNS

OouqLas

LibRAR^?

Introduction

1. i HE obligation imposed upon me, personally to stand forwardj on the present occasion, to address all classes of men, and to communicate to them the proposal which I have now the honour of laying before them ; a proposal which, it will be found in the end an indispensable duty, an imavoidable task, devolved upon me to advance for the universal good of my country and mankind, and for accomplishing the intentions of the Almighty Creator of all things.

2. The subject. It embraces means, explored and discovered by me, which are competent to save our countr}', — to rectify public affairs,— to aggrandize the empire, — to procure a lasting and advantageous peace, — to relieve and remove our burdens, grievances, tithes, and public debt, — to complete the Avealth and strength of the kingdom,— to dispense indivi-

A dual prosperity and happiness, on true fixed foundations, — and to consummate human welfare, as private, national, and international.

The summary effect which the accomplishment of these several ends or objects would produce, is, however, no other than the right and rational state of things on earth, — than the true and natural plan or scheme of human economy, prosperity, and happiness, — than an organized aggregate, or complete practical body, of our own Avelfare ; but may be called a perfect state of civilization, or a new era of mankind ; for they are all synonimous terms. The means of accomplishing them I call the practical art, profession, or science of human welfare, on account of the certainty and facilitj^ with which they produce the above effects. But it is not an art of mine ; it is an art which belongs to my country and all nations, and which they may ascertain themselves, when they take the requisite pains, or the pains I have done ; but if they embrace it as my discovery, their superior knowledge and abilities will be sure to supply my defects, and perfect my proposal.

The subject may be considered as human and ordinary : This would be sufficient for my purposes. Notwithstanding, it is of divine origin, being virtually prepared, in numerous disiinct portions, for man to discover, modify for his use, combine, and carry into effect ; and it will hereafter be considered, as it is revealed in scripture.

3. The present situation of our national concerns, and the nature of those measures that have produced it.

That situation and those measures must necessarily be such as they are known to be, when there has not been discovered a practical art, profession, or science, competent to meliorate, conduct, and administer them ; but the reverse is actually employed, They, in fact, constitute a crisis pregnant with ruin, and, as the natural consequence of human deterioration, appear to be the catastrophe of the British Empire.

However, if the particular histories of Edward the 1st, Henry the 7th, and Elizabeth, be actually superior to those of the present times, and we admit they required the addition of great improvements, what are the improvements wanted in our day ? What fatal consequences have not, in the advanced course of deterioration, the defects and inabilities of ministers produced in the present reign, — even Lord Chatham himself, as well as his son and Mr Fox, having been ready to enter into the views ol' A 2 an imperfect state or system of civilization, when they came into power ? If we be ignorant of the art or profession of human welfare, and be satisfied with the reverse, and the ornaments, false fame, and multiplied honours that embellish the present state of things, it is mere delusion and want of practical science which prevent us fron\ rectifying and completing our different interests. At least, there are no satisfactory grounds for inferring the proposed art is inadequate to their amendment and final consummation ; for hitherto it has been unknown and unemployed ; and its services must be considerable, even should it not produce the whole of the effects ascribed to it.

4. The facility and efficacy of the means for answering the end proposed by them.

The means advanced are not ideas and hints, but practical measures, and effective plans, placed upon the surest foundations. Those reputed most objectionable and arduous, have been adopted by Government, and found easy in practice. A few individuals are -sufTicient for their introduction, or one accredited patron would insure their success. Art is certain in producing its work; its absence alone causes difficulty, awkM'ardness, and the impracticability of enterprises.

5. The immediate object of offering my proposal.

It is, in tlie first place, to procure the consideratiou of its contents by the nation at large, therefore to make these universally known ; afterwards to obtain a fair decision, whether they should be adopted ; in the mean time to make them a general subject of free inquiry and short debates, Avhich is supposed sufficient for ascertaining their merits.

6. Different apologies, independently of any alleged compulsion, for my offering the present proposal.

These are, long attention, and accurate investigation of my subject; a respectable call, made for the purpose ; the certainty of my endeavours doing service, should they only excite others to employ similar; thorough conviction, that I ought not to abandon the cause ; the duty of being a sincere and faithful servant to my God, my country, and mankind; the state of the Empire ; and the necessity of no individual losing any time to serve his country at this awful crisis. The less apology is requisite, because it is not a direct and personal call on private persons, but general and national ; nor am I the man who would presume as I do at present, had I not \>een sure of the grounds of my proposal. A Howard, in support of a much inferior oL'iect, travelled the country and continent at larpr , ri'.^Ving free with all ranks that could contribute to the sticcess of his endeavours. I therefore trust I might be permitted to do the same, with satisfaction to myself; for it is now indispensable, that all persons should fix their thoughts, if not upon my proposal, at least upon the study of human welfare, and its principles ; and the present appears a proper mode of directing the general attention to it.

7. The motives why individuals in general should adopt or second the proposal, as it may not be considered to be of divine origin.

Among these may be selected on the occasion their own interests as concerned in the highest degree; — the pre-eminent honour of being early supporters of the proposal, with the indelible disgrace of being its enemies; a praiseworthy feeling for the honour and character of their country at the present juncture ; their duty to effect infinite good, and avoid infinite evil; and, lastly, the eflorts that are become indispensable, in order to save the empire, and advance it on an ecjual scale of elevation with the rising genius of France.

8. Tlie proposal as it is the tliird and fmal

Dispensation of revealed religion, haA'ing been preceded by the Mosaic and Christian ; and may be called the British Dispensation.

What is called the kingdom of God on earth, and the right state of things in this world, are one and the same, this being evident even from the subsequent pages. The establishment of that kingdom, consequently the institution of the right state of things, constitutes the great event, which is the completion of revealed religion. The scriptures themselves consider the kingdom in those glorious and splendid views, which fully entitle the introduction of it to the rank and character of the Third Dispensation. What is requisite, which the scriptures do not in all respects furnish, to complete the dispensation, is no more than to be able to ascertain wherein the kingdom consists, Avhat are the actual means of effecting it, who the agent to employ them for their purposes ; care being taken that these points are established consistently with the tenor of the sacred writings, and the physical laws and intentions of the Almighty, and confirmed at the same time by their authority. That, in proposing the third dispensation, such conditions are strictly complied willi, may be seen in the second and third chapters of this treatise, which show the dispensation to be the final purpose of our earthly probation, and of revealed religion itself. The energetic powers, detailed in these and the first chapter, evidently prove themselves, as well as mankind at large, in the part of agents, adequate to the effecting of the dispensation ; and their coincidence and coopei'ation with each other, and the intentions of the Almighty expressed both b}^ revealed religion and his physical laws, demonstrate their origin to be in God. A grand j)urpose is intended to be effected through their means ; and this is evidently the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth, the accomplishment of which is the proposed dispensation. It is the duty of man to advance this dispensation, all individuals and nations whatever being essentially interested in it, as it is ordained by Almighty God to every human creature : but independently of this awful consideration, the dispensation is a duty, connected inseparably with the present political situation of the Avorld, when its holy standard is necessary to quell the general commotion of nations, and reduce them under the subjection of the kingdom of God on earth. There is then an indispensable call ibr it by the interests of mankind at large, and particularly by those of this country, when their situation is not less urgent.

than that in ■which the world was placed by Eirytian and Kqmau tyranny, at the time of instituting tlie Mosaic and Christian Dispensations. As it contributes to the particular interests of Great Britain, it is wanted to save the empire, and render us the greatest possible services both public and private, while it will interfere with no advantages we actually possess, whether general or partial, but is essential to their continuance ; while it will rectify our affairs, and complete our interests, placing them upon their right and natural foundations. In thus preventing inlinitc calamity, in removing distress, and bringing along with it great accessions of every kind of prosperity and happiness, it will be found not less dear to us and human nature, than his own interests are to every individual, than those of his children are to the parent, tlian those of his country are to a real patriot king, than those of his species are to the active and sincere philanthropist.

It has a still farther right to the title of the British Dispensation, being the most important of our political resources, a subject that will be resumed hereafter. It may therefore be assumed not for the purposes of glory, but for a humble acknowledgment of our political offences, as far as they have with just cause excited B io

the displeasure of mankind against us ; nor need we be ashamed in acknowledging error and culpability, when we emerge, through the Dispensation, from an imperfect state of civilization, which the holy prophet Jeremiah calls a " system of lies, vanity, and things in which there is no prolit."

However urgent the institution of the dispensation must unquestionably be, whenever tlie laaeans of effecting it are discovered at any period of time; however urgent it must bie in a political situation of the world like the present, its accomplishment will farther be found, l>y references contained in the treatise, to be affixed by the scriptures themselves to the present time. This is likewise a point, in which ail who treat upon the prophesies agree, though in other respects their authority is always imperfect, since they seldom agree, and a:t random treat of the scriptural predictions, without having ascertained either in what the kingdom of God consists, or the means of establishing it on earth. The practical application of the contents of the treatise to the British Dispensation being thus imminently urgent to eveiy individual, I shall b(} less solicitous in referring them to that important object. I shall leave this in a great measure to the reader himself.

■while I more pointedly apply the coinents of the true original scheme of human economy to the completion of the different interests, and the preservation of the British empire.

The dispensation is already pointed out to the reader in a religious view, assimilating itr self with revealed religion, in a political view, being indispensable to the preservation of the British empire ; but if he pay common attention to it in the following pages, he will find it to be a power, however great and extraordinary, easy and familiar in its operations, adapted to the nature and faculties of man in every station afid situation, attending to all things and circumstances, doing every good and avoiding every evil, supplying all human wants and rational desires, the interest of every man, of e\ ery profession ; being that universal instrument which is alike wanted, and alike useful in the cabinet, the senate, the church, the courts of justice, the vestry, the private dwellinghouse, in public life, in privnte life, in our pleasures and amusements, in the fields, on the seas, in the intercourse of nations, every where establishing, in its effects, the kingdom of God, or the right state of earthly things, with that perfect efficacy and facility, which show tl\c B2 '

British Dispensation to be the original act and intention of Ahnighty God.

Considering myself, from this introduction, warranted to tliscuss iny subject in the freest and most unreserved manner, I next proceed to arrange the body, or principal part, of the different heads of the proposal under four chapters.

I.— In what the right state of things consists, with the means or practical art of effecting this state, and managing the affairs and interests oi nations in general,

II. — That there is a sublime, beautiful, grand, divine, competent scheme of human economy, as well as of the rest of the universe, which is intended to produce a right state of things, wherein man is the sole and distinguished agent, and the institution and support of which are his high and honourable destiny ; that the execution of this grand divine scheme of human economy is the practice of natural religion, an obligation of duty that comprehends all other obligations, and a part, which man is intended to act in conjunction with nature, or the Deity, for completing the economy of the universe itself; that hence, independently of our revealed religion, tl^ere arises an awful duty, thi'eefold in its essence, imposed upon nations and individuals, of devoting thcinselves to institute the right state of things on earth, or the grand scheme of human econom}'.

III. — That the right state of things on earth is the actual practice of our revealed religion, or, in scriptural language, the kingdom of God on earth ; and that in conse<:|uence there arises, as an addition to the sanctions established in ^he preceding chapter, a duty infinitely more awful, fourfold in its essence, imposed upon nations and individuals, of devoting themselves to institute the right state of things on earth, or the true original scheme of human econonvy.

IV. — Reasons for instituting the perfect state of civilization, in other words, a right state of things, and the true scheme of human economy, as they are drawn first, from the contrary state or scheme, and the usual routine of national proceedings, having hitherto been necessarily destructive to all the principalities and empires ever known in the world, as well as from their present tendency and operations menacing the subversion of the British empire : secondly, from such a perfect state of civilization, or true scheme of human economy, being requisite to preserve the Empire from ruin, inasmuqh as it possesses inherent virtue, and elUu

cacy to complete the strength, affluence, prosperity, happiness, and aggrandizement of the empire : thirdly, from their informing or in» structing us how to avoid the usual causes of past wars ; how to make peace on the most de^ sirable terms ; and how, when thus made, to maintain it.

The present proposal should be taken into consideration along with different papers now printed for the purpose of being circulated with it. I, however, wish it may be considered in the light of a treatise, as well as a proposal; trusting it may form a valuable addition to my works at large upon the same subject, which contain the executive measures and practical plans requisite to constitute a right state of things. Farther, it may, by a succinct and comprehensive view of the grand outline, or powerful principles on wbich it is founded, supply the want of an abreviature of those |ilans and measures, which could not be abridged, if the works themselves might be reduced to less magnitude. They are narrated in their shortest forms; and certainly it is sufficient to refer to them, when the object of the proposal is to give a view of the divine scheme of human economy and its executive energies, and of the third, or British dispensation of revealed religion in the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. For from the discovery of the practicability of this kingdom we may be induced to place faith in the efficacy of the plans and measures that led to its ascertainment, till we have leisure to pay minute attention to them.

Chap. I

In ivhat the right state of things on earth consists, zvith the means, or practical art, of effecting the state, and managing the affairs and interests of nations in the manner they ought,

" which has already been denominated the practical art of human zoelfare.

THE right state of tilings on earth is particularly and fully considered in a work, to which I must frequently refer in the present proposal, entitled " Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Men," as it treats of the kingdom of God on earth: for the accounts therein given of the latter being the same as that of a right state of things, and being at the same time so fair and just, that they may be admitted to be a fair statement of such a condition of things in all respects, they are here subjoined in a short description of the kingdom, extracted from that work.

" The kingdom may be said to consist in removing or preventing all evil, injury, distress, or misery, foreign to human nature, or which it is possible, or it is both pemiitted and ordained to remove: in procuring for ourselves and others, and for all nations, whatever prosperity and happiness it is consistent with our duty to procure them ; and in making whatever improvements and amendments are salutary and serviceable, so as to forward and finally accomplish the culture, industry, and population of the different parts of the world, and give the whole such abundance, wealth, quality, and Sariety of productions, as mav supply the various inrmite advantages, with Avhich the world was created and intended to furnish mankind : in perfectly understanding and administering all the different departments and relations of general Marfare, economical, political, civil, natural, mental, moral, religious, revealed, or whatever they may be : in thus multiplying good with the most frequent, numerous, and earnest efforts, constituting national perfection according to the power and capacity of nature, by collecting the things able to form it^ and consummating the several advantages and interests of the world with ail possible beneficence and melioration : in making a proper use of the dignity of human nature, of its high sense of excellence and virtue, and of its capacity for attaining earthly perfection, which the Almighty has given it by a mind competent to the destination of mankind, and a genius commensurate to the direction and perfection of the world : in therefore displaying the several powers and perfonnances of the arts, sciences, and works of taste and embellishment, providing in abundance all the matured fruits of useful knowledge, eradicating ignorance, barbarism, savageness, brutality, and war; and particularly in exhibiting the splendours and purities of great and virtuous actions, such as elevate humanity, and render general and essential services to our country, to mankind, and to distant ages: in the due enjoyment of happiness and pleasure, as these are rational, and as creation offers them, unvitiated by gloom or austerity : and in obeying the divine will, and respecting, worshiping, and glorifying the Father of all things. In the language of the prophet Daniel, it is a kingdom founded on a system, and on knowledge, which ages have been destined to explore ; C

IS

v> liicli experience or the Ancient of Days has ■matured, and introduces and administers in conjunction with the Son of God, conformably to the high principles of Christian benevolence ; which the friends of man execute or effect with sanctity and holiness, and support for ever ; which will suppress all evils and sources of evils, the consequences of all false systems of general welfare ; which shall fill the whole earth, and shall stand for ever ; and to which all nations will pay obedience. In the language of the prophet Isaiah, it is a kingdom which will fill the earth with knowledge, as the waters cover the sea, be founded on the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, and the fear of the Lord ; and thus Avill consummate all the political and economical views of the universe: Avhich Avill be candid and merciful, support the meek and lowly, the virtuous and innocent, and protect them from wrong and oppression, banish from the world injustice, be true and faithful, remove all malignity, savageness, brutality and fury, and establish love, harmony, and peace in their stead : which will collect and settle the Jews in their native country, render them prosperous and happy, and a commercial people; and at the same time give two European powers possession of Assyria and Egypt, who will hereafter live in perpetual peace and amity, though Egypt will not possess the commerce of the eastern parts of Asia. In the language of the prophet Jeremiah, it is a kingdom which shall make mankind joyful and happy : which shall plant vines upon the mountains, that the planters shall eat as common things : which shall cause its people to walk in a straight wa_v, wherein they shall not stumble: which shall satisfy or satiate them with its goodness, and -rt ater their souls as a garden, so that they no longer shall be a prey to sorrow and misforr tune; and which shall be welcomed by the gentiles from the ends of the earth.

In the language of the prophet St John, it is a kingdom which will renovate all things with fresh life and vigour ; which will produce a new earth, as it will cause to pass away all the shocking horrors and excesses of a false sAstem of general welfare, and place before mankind, as it were, a new heaven, the proper object of their future solicitude and pursuit ; which will produce a pure river, of water of life, clear as chrystal, and making to flourisk trees of life, the leaves whereof shall be the healing of the nations, and their fruits shall be of twelve kinds, be renewed every montt^, and replenish C2 them with prosperity and happiness, constituting their real welfare and earthly beatitude; which will wipe away all the tears from the eyes of its people, and will prevent death, sorrow, crying, and pain, unless so far as they ^e unavoidable by humanity, or so far as they cannot be removeil by beneficence and improvement ; and which will cause the Alniightj and his Son to be acknowledged throughout the imiverse, before whom the kings of the earth will bring the glory and honour of the nations, and in future be directed by the light of the Lamb."

It is unnecessary to dwell farther upon the subject, since persons can conceive for themr selves a notion, of a right state of things on earth : and the notion, if rational and practicable, will not exceed that which is capable of being executed by means of the practical art of human welfare ; the consideration of wliit h, in respect of its several powers and energies, will therefore occupy the remainder of the chapter.

This art is easy and simple. It consists wholly in practice ; and things that are arduous or complex, must, by some mode or other be rendered plain and brought witliin compass. )»efore they can be rc^ili^ed. Indeed it must, ovi this account, render them simple and easy. Often, it is no more than common sense, tnie wisdom, and sound policy, ably displayed in carrying into effect, or supporting what is good and desirable to mankind. At other times it is employed to procure materials, con-, trive plans, and find measures, with which to form them into the purposes intended. Its energies, however, are infinite-, its discoveries and inventions wonderful ; it embraces alike the solid foundations, and the highest powere of public and private prosperity and happiness: and as it is practical in all respects, so it is the reverse of what is speculative and refined. It is at the sarne time as capable of answering the objections, as of providing expedients to remove the obstacles, that may be opposed against it. It is competent to procure whatever is good, and intended for the use of mankind, and to efiect all practical improvements, throughout their widest extent. It is primary in itself, as it is capable of completing human welfare f^t large from its first foundations; and it may be considered as secondary in accompljshipg partial purposes, such as the removal of grievances, the management or rectifying of juiblic aflairSj and the saving of nations froni ruin, the means of ctfecting which arc implied in its primary powers; whoever can build or create being able to repair, and regulate his own constructions.

The practical art of human welfare consists of the following powers, seven in number: — 1. Of the full and comprehensive knowledge of what is good on earth in its present extent, and in its capacity of being farther extended, and in like manner of what is evil in its present extent, and in its capacity of being removed, or reduced to less magnitude, by means of the practical art of human welfare, employed according to the views of our Creator ; he thus having made a sufficient provision of good to produce a right state of things on earth through the agency of mankind, but having at the same time mixed it with evil not less suflicient to produce a contrary etate, more particularly in case of the neglect, abuse, or violation of what is good. — 2. Of the executive and meliorative talents inherent in man, as they are competent to prepare, superintend, and carry into efiect the grand body or aggregate of human welfare, in respect of its primary institution, and subsequent permanency. — 3. Of our species at large qualified ^s agents, proper to carry every where into effect, and permanently maintain the aggregate, after tiiis has been prepared and devised by means of adequate knowledge, combined with meliorative and executive talents. — 4. Of the energies of religion, as they are highly conducive to favour and uphold a right state of things, and the completion of human welfare, on earth; religion possessing very extraordinary powers adequate to these purposes. — 5. Of the powerful assistances that may be derived from the combination of the legislature, — of the executive government, and an addition made to it of a proposed board of national improvement,— of local societies of improvement established in every different circle in the kino-- dom, — and of the people co-operating in a body with the several parties, but in due subordination to them, for the purpose of dcvisinoand preparing, as well as of carr\ing into effect, and supporting whert cficctcd tiiroughout the empire, the proposed aggregate of human welfare. — 6. Of a proper systematic mode of propagating and extending the knowledge and practice of the art of human welfare, with all its different plans and measures, not onlv throughout the interior of nations, but the whole world. — 7. Of informing, and collecting the public sentiment upon the subject of human welfare, in order to receive its assistance, which is absolutel}' necessary, in order to introduce tlie complete aggregate of civiiizcitioii into practice.

Having now aimounced the prineipal ^wwers, or constituent principles, of the art, it is proposed, in the ues^ place, to treat separately, but in a summary manner, of each, according to the order wherein they are placed.

1. The full and comprehensive kuo^vledge of what is good oa earth, in its present extent^ and in its capacity of being farther extended, — ' aiid, in like manner, of what is evil, in its present extent, and in its capacity of being removed, or reduced to less magnitude, by means of the practical art of human welfare, according to the views of our Creator j he having thus made a sufficient provision of good to produce a right state of things on earth, through the agency of mankind, — but having, at the same time, mixed it with evil not less sufficient to produce a contrary state, particularly in case of neglect, abuse, or violation of what is good.

There is an infinite aggregate of good in the world, known and unknown, ernployed and unemployed, whence are derived those services to mankind which it is the office of the practical art or profession of human welfare to effect, through the medium of different plans and mea/- sures, devised or discovered by itself. Thiis good, with these different plans and measures, constitute the organized aggregate or body of human welfare, and are, by the Almighty, intended for the vse and service of mankind, as the horse who labours for numerous nations, and the farinaceous alirtients consumed by mankind in general, are provided for their sustenance and relief, through the agency and co-operation of their own genius and industry. At the same time, what is evil accompanies or is blended with what is good ; it, in like manner, proceeds from the Almighty, for accomplishing his all-wise purposes, and is intended to be counteracted by our species. Thus good and evil are mingled together in this life, and huinan interests checkered by them, as a fit subject for the exercise of the art of human welfare, and the grand and important purpose of our earthly probation.